Hello everyone,
As always, thank you so much for following my content and learning Japanese with me. Before we know it, a whole month has already passed since the start of the new year. How is 2026 treating you so far?
Are you the type of person who sets New Year’s resolutions? I used to be. I liked making a long list of goals at the beginning of the year—but honestly, I was never very good at achieving them… haha. Part of the reason was that I expected too much of myself. I would think, “A year is long enough—I can do all of this!”
Then December would arrive, and I’d realise just how quickly the year had passed. Life had been busy and messy, and many of the goals I set in January were still untouched. That feeling was quite discouraging.
So this year, I decided on something different.
たくさんの目標はあえて立てない。(たくさん の もくひょう は あえて たてない。)
(I will intentionally not set too many goals.)
Instead, I want to focus on these three ideas:
・目の前の課題に一生懸命取り組む (Give my all to the task in front of me.)
・小さな達成感を積み上げる (Build up a sense of achievement, bit by bit.)
・「ながら作業」をしない (Focus on one thing at a time.)
Let me explain them one by one.
First, 目の前の課題に一生懸命取り組む (め の まえ の かだい に いっしょう けんめい とりくむ) means giving my full effort to whatever task is right in front of me, no matter how small it is. It could be cooking dinner for my family, hanging up the laundry, making a small Instagram post, or drafting a (hopefully!) useful Substack article. Big or small, I want to be fully present and do my best.
This leads to the second point: 小さな達成感を積み上げる (ちいさな たっせいかん を つみあげる)—building up small feelings of achievement. I often finish the day feeling that things were done a bit half-heartedly, or left unfinished. Instead of making everything a big goal, I want to keep tasks small, clear, and truly achievable.
By the time I go to bed, I’m usually exhausted—but I still want to read a book. Reading takes energy, so I tell myself: “Just read two pages.” Not a whole chapter. Just two pages. That small achievement is enough.
The same applies to my online presence. I’d like to turn more of my ideas into reality by creating content regularly, but without putting too much pressure on myself. I truly appreciate you following my work, and I’d love to interact with you more!
Lastly,「ながら作業 (ながら さぎょう)」をしない. This phrase refers to doing something while doing something else—especially while scrolling on your phone. I often feel that my attention is hijacked the moment I pick up my phone, without even meaning to. I’m sure many of you can relate.
This year, I want to focus on one thing at a time. When I cook, I just cook. When I’m with someone, I simply enjoy being with them (especially my husband—sorry for half-listening to your jokes while scrolling on my phone). When I watch something, I watch it properly and make it a full experience. In short, I want to practise being present, instead of being distracted and pulled somewhere else on the internet.
It might sound a little silly, but this is what feels important to me right now.
What about you? Did you make any New Year’s resolutions this year? Why—or why not? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please let me know in the comments.
Photo by Milan Dangol on Unsplash
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