2026 Goals
2025 done. I wish I could say it was a horrible terrible year. Well, it actually was a horrible terrible year. But, sprinkled throughout the year, there were wonderful moments and achievements that I am, of course, truly grateful for.
This time last year feels like a lifetime ago. Life felt definitely less heavy as we blissfully awaited a new year full of hope and excitement.... a week later everything changed drastically for us ( and so many others affected by the LA fires). One of the many lessons of the year is to count your blessings and recognize that we never know what the future holds for us... which is why I've shifted from making resolutions to simply writing out goals. It feels safer, more flexible, things that I can achieve throughout the year, regardless of what life throws my way.
I did achieve some good things last year so, let me take a moment to celebrate those wins! Last year I incorporated heavy weight training, more regular sauna sessions and meal planning to make my life easier ( omg this does make my week so much easier! If you need help with meal planning for the week, I share my weekly menus on Sundays on my substack. Make sure you are subscribed! ) ... not planned, but something I am proud of achieving is a 100% polyester free home, meaning every single item that I sourced as a replacement for furniture/HomeGoods lost from the Fire, are all made of natural textiles - no polyester/ plastics ( so no micro/ nano plastics)
What are my 2026 goals?
After 16 years of low tox living, it truly is just part of our daily lives. Nothing we need to work too hard for ( although sometimes when I find myself having to spend hours looking for a specific product and asking manufacturers questions, it does still get annoying lol) nor something that stresses us out too much. It's a marathon and not a sprint, meaning that, even if today you're exposed to something out of your control, for the most part, it's what you are, or are not, exposed to on a daily basis that is going to have the biggest impact on your overall health. Understanding that helps it become very easy and not overwhelming at all.
But, there are still things I need to work on that are related to low tox living and/ or overall wellness.... so- without further ado- and in the hopes that maybe it inspires someone - here are my goals for 2026
nervous system regulation.
what this is
When our nervous system is not regulated, our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are imbalanced. We feel we are at our limit, on edge and it affects our ability to problem-solve, make rational decisions, and engage positively with others.
A dyregulated nervous system can also present itself as causing chronic fatigue, digestive issues, sleep problems, anxiety, depression, brain fog, and weakened immunity, leading to physical pain (headaches, muscle tension), emotional instability (irritability, dissociation), disrupting nearly every bodily system and making it hard to cope. It leaves the body constantly stressed, increasing risks for cardiovascular and inflammatory conditions.
Nervous system regulation is crucial for maintaining emotional balance & responding effectively to stress.
Howit's related to low tox living
The nervous system, especially the autonomic branch (ANS), is the master controller of your body's detox organs (liver, kidneys, gut, lymph), but stress shifts you to "fight-or-flight" (sympathetic), hindering detox; true detoxification happens in "rest-and-digest" (parasympathetic) mode.
How I plan to regulate
Prioritize Sleep: for me this will mean
skipping the Cel Phone scrolling at least 15 minutes before bedtime ( it should be at least one hour, but I am trying to be realistic and set small goals! )
8 - 10 hours of sleep to allow brain and liver cleansing.
Manage Stress: Practice relaxation, deep breathing, and meditation to activate the parasympathetic system.
Safe and Sound Protocol: I started this protocol last year but was unable to complete it, basically because I did not give it the priority I should have ! So this year I will be focusing the first three months on working through this program what is it? " the Safe & Sound Protocol (SSP) helps the nervous system by using specially filtered music to stimulate the vagus nerve, sending cues of safety that calm the fight-or-flight response and shift the body from threat detection to a state of relaxation and social engagement, ultimately improving stress regulation, emotional control, and connection. It works by training the auditory system to focus on human voice frequencies, retraining the brain to feel safer and process sensory input more effectively, making individuals more resilient and open to learning and connection"
Read for enjoyment. I spend a lot of time reading, but the reality is that I'm always reading research papers and articles on sustainability, environmental chemical or parenting. This year my goal is to read at least four books for pure entertainment. It is a gift to myself
Therapy: I have always been a big proponent of therapy for everyone. And, after this past year ( read: fire trauma), more so than ever. While offering therapy and support to everyone in my family last year, I somehow did not make the time for myself. So I'm excited to have a recurrent therapy appointment set up for the first few weeks of January!
I would love to hear any goals you might be setting for yourself if you care to share!
Will also take a moment to share that I do plan to write more content here that is exclusive for paid Substack subscribers in 2026. Up until now, most of my content has been free to read, however, it's becoming harder and harder to get my content seen on Instagram, making it harder and harder to support my work. Subscribing for a small fee seems to be the one way you can help support my work and grow my business…. The money raised From subscribers goes directly to helping me hire help so that I can provide more content, research and reviews here and on Instagram. hi, of course, understand not everyone is able to subscribe, but if it fits your budget and you find my content helpful from the past 16 years ( eeck its been that long!!) Please consider becoming a paid subscriber. It is greatly appreciated. 💕
Wishing you a prosperous, joyful, healthy 2026!
Aida