January 2026 is nearly over, and I completed goal #1. I should feel a bit more proud of myself, but I don’t. I think part of that discontent comes from trying to change so many things all at once. It’s important to remember to keep things simple and change one habit at a time.
My first goal this month was to go sober for January, and I’ve done that. So I’m going to give myself a little credit. I’m feeling great, and not drinking alcohol really makes everything in your life so much easier.
Second, I’m proud of myself for waking up early and working out consistently. I’ve also started filming parts of my life daily, and I’m posting regular videos to help other photographers and freelancers.
Things I can now focus on and start adding into my habits for February:
#1 Going to bed on time.
Sounds simple, but it’s so much harder for me to put my laptop down at night when I just want to finish one last thing. That last little thing is far less important than my sleep and recovery. I’m noticing that without good sleep, my focus is fucked.
#2 Not beating myself up over things.
No rumination, and stay away from doom scrolling. Constant consumption leads to comparison and chaos in your brain. All of this chaos leads to unnecessary stress.
#3 Read more books.
Learn from other people’s mistakes instead of learning the hard way.
#4 When you plan anything, set a time and a date to do it.
This makes it way easier to get things done. This helps a lot with dieting, which I’m adding to my habits for February. My meals are planned—the ingredients, the size of each meal, and the times I’ll eat them. Yes, you might slip up, but having everything pre-planned makes it easier to stick to.
#5 This is the most important one for me.
When I started taking photos for work, I shot photos every day, whether I was getting paid or not. I have to do this again. In January, I posted images I had made only two times on social media. That’s not enough, and it’s avoiding the practice and fun of photography. I need to be posting small photo series and my work at least 6–8 times a month. Do more. Plan only 50% of my shoots. Don’t be a perfectionist—be a doer. Ultimately, my product is my photos. No matter how busy I am with video, photos are my income and my practice.
#6 A closed mouth and a lone wolf do not get fed.
Meet with people older, younger, and smarter than you. Be a good friend, host, and reach out often.
#7 Lastly, you can’t forget about LIFE.
Do one thing a week that faces your fears. Record yourself in public, talk to strangers, try a hobby you’ll suck at. Do things that have zero ROI. It’s important to play in your life. For me, that’s ice skating and learning new things that aren’t particularly useful to my career, but are just fun to do.
