Let's flow to 2026 with intention

Let's not just drift into the new year, but let's find the sense of purpose as we enter the threshold of 2026.

The year 2026 is a new book waiting to be written.

We will see new trends shaping up throughout the world. Norway had already decided to ban sale of all new diesel and petrol cars by this year, and electric vehicles recently surpassed petrol cars in the total number of cars on Norwegian roads, though diesel cars remain the most common, according to Our World in Data and Energy Monitor.

The fashion experts say the style trends to look out for in 2026 are bold colours, tassels and luxury.

So it seems it is all about maximalism in the fashion world, but I would say don't get carried away because we need to think of the environment as well.

The waste volume is 92 million tonnes of textile waste generated yearly, projected to hit 134 million tonnes by 2030.

Landfill or incineration is where the used clothes end up. Roughly 85 per cent of used textiles end up in landfills or incinerated, with only 15-20 per cent collected for reuse or recycling.

Apparently, less than one per cent is truly recycled. Then we have the issue of fast fashion. This is something to think about and plan as we set our new calendar in place.

We definitely want to grow in 2026.

Oh, there is so much we need to catch up by learning to rewire and reset our mind process.

If you are like me thinking as many times as possible before making an online transaction, then join in, to accept that online life is going to be a much larger reality.

Of course, we will have to continue to learn more about Gen Z and accept that they will walk around with headphones. They have many cool thoughts, for instance, the loudly crying emoji. According to dictionary.com, for Gen Z, this emoji is more exclusively used to indicate positive feelings like when something is so funny, cute or sweet that it is totally overwhelming.

Then we have to gear up for the areas of careers that are taking prominent spots. We will hear more about artificial intelligence, Data science and machine learning, user experience and experience design, cyber security and ethical hacking, biotechnology, cloud computing and software systems.

We probably hear more about biomedicine.

And these are probably the careers to run after as well. But as always, aptitude is an essential ingredient and it would be best if we can spend more time to understand what we truly want to do in life.

Other careers are still great such as banking, healthcare, human resource management, developing software, risk management, business analytics and financial strategists.

I bet sustainability analysts will see a growth in demand and there would always be a need for emergency services coordinators. Internet of Things specialists will also see an expansion along with cloud architects.

Entrepreneurial spirit will continue to be celebrated.

There are ways to develop ourselves - it could be personal growth, home, or finances. A powerful way would be to reset your energy and set yourself up for success. Of course, we have learnt a lot about how our goals have to be SMART — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

We often keep it as a wishlist and probably that is where our problem lies. It remains a wish. If it is to be a goal then it requires action. I have seen some remarkable people who are determined and systematic in achieving their goals.

Before we reset, it seems we must reflect. We have 365 days to look back and this is what the experts ask us to do — write at least five things we have proudly achieved In 2025. It is also nice to look at our journal where we had written about what we wanted to achieve in 2025.

Not everything can be under our control because life is unpredictable and dynamic.

So we need to reflect on what's the biggest win is in 2025 and look ahead with new goals. Experts say it's better to narrow down the number of goals. Maybe three is an ideal number and when we achieve them we can add more.

On the personal development front, it is important to go back to books and reading at least one page a day, simply because brain also needs a fitness schedule. Digital detoxification is part of mental hygiene and we must find ways to achieve it. And on the list are healthy food and financial fitness. Experts also advise that we must invest in courses to improve our skills. Basically, upgrading ourselves is a necessity today.

Most importantly, it is the adaptability that is most essential because AI will disrupt in many ways. Instead of being anxious maybe we need to be open-minded and try to grasp the changes. We have faced changes before and change is inevitable. Every cloud has a silver lining.

Let us not forget to count our blessings and carry the attitude of gratitude to next year.