Happy New Year Reader!

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Wishing you a joyful, healthy, and fulfilling 2026 filled with fresh opportunities, meaningful connections, and the confidence to go after what you’re dreaming about this year!

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Since the start of the year can feel overwhelming with new habits and intentions, this week’s Agenda is about slowing that down. Choosing direction over overwhelm and focusing on what actually deserves your energy right now, instead of trying to fix everything by February.

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Inside This Edition:

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• Why January works better with direction, not a long list of goals
• How to choose one focus for the next 8 to 10 weeks and stick with it
• Career resources to help you plan Q1 and build habits that last
• January events designed to help you start the year feeling connected
• Ideas and trends on our radar shaping work, habits, and careers in 2026

Why January Needs a Direction, Not a Dozen New Goals

Can we talk about January for a second? Because every year it's the same thing, we convince ourselves that this is the year we'll finally get everything sorted, so we make plans to completely overhaul our career, health, finances and morning routines.

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And then by mid-February, we're exhausted, and half of our new habits have been abandoned.

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The problem isn't your ability to stick to a new habit, it's that you're trying to change everything all at once. So with your energy pulled in twelve directions, nothing gets proper attention and it’s no wonder things fall apart.

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What actually works:

• Pick one area to focus on for the next 8-10 weeks
• Build one small habit that supports it
• Let everything else sit on the back burner for now

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I know it feels counterintuitive to do less in January when everyone else is doing more. But focused progress on one thing beats scattered effort on twelve things.

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This post helps you identify what deserves your attention right now and a reflection exercise to get clear on your direction. You don't need to reinvent yourself this month, you just need to pick the one thing that matters the most and give it your full attention.

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January events to help you start the year building relationships that can support your year ahead.

📱DIGITAL WELLBEING Experts say managing your digital environment by reducing notifications and clearing apps improves focus and reduces stress as you head into the new year. Small changes, such as digital-free walks and morning tech limits, can help you regain focus.

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📖 CAREERS A recent review of the biggest workplace trends in 2025 highlights growing pressure, disengagement and a widening disconnect between employees and employers. Understanding these cultural shifts and how to support your team in the workplace will help you lead better in 2026.

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🧠 HABITS Many people expect January to feel motivating, then feel confused when their energy dips instead. Short days, disrupted routines, and work ramping up all contribute to this feeling. Wellness experts suggest anchoring your days with one non-negotiable habit to steady energy rather than trying to add a dozen new habits to your daily routine.

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🤓 SKILLS Career experts agree that learning how to work with AI, make good judgment calls, adapt quickly and build mental resilience will matter more than ever in the workplace this year. These are the 5 skills you need to build to stay relevant in 2026.​

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💻 TRENDS A new workplace trend calls some early career roles “career situationships,” where neither the employer nor the employee makes a full long-term commitment. The idea highlights how younger professionals are prioritising flexibility and varied experience over traditional ladder-style job progression and thinking about work in a less linear way.

January tends to surface a lot of quiet questions. Should I be pushing for that promotion this year? Is it time to make a change? Am I learning enough where I am, or have I outgrown this role? Many of us feel the urge to do something different when the new year starts, but aren’t always sure where to start or who to talk it through with.

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This month matters because what you put in motion now often shapes the rest of the year. Getting clear on your direction early helps you move intentionally rather than reacting later when opportunities pop up or frustration builds.

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If support would help, there are a few ways to do that. You might join us at an upcoming event to grow your network in a low-pressure way, become part of the Peer Suite membership for ongoing connection and career support, or book a one-to-one career strategy session with me to think through your next step in detail.

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However you choose to approach it, you don’t have to figure this out alone. I’d love to support you this year and hope to see many of you in person over the coming weeks!

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Your friend,
Rebecca x

Founder - Peer Suite ​

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