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Twenty-six 26 in 26 Ideas
So, did you start your 26 in 26 health & fitness adventure that I threw the gamlut down for you in my last newsletter? If you missed that last post, you can access it here. But, in short, 26 in 26 is basically that we have 26 weeks before 2026 ends, so why not make them count by improving our health and fitness.
So, how well are you doing with that first goal or intention?
If well, or if not so well, what excuses or issues are challenging you? Or possible barriers that you are needing to navigate?
A Big Challenge of Mine has Been A Broken Fridge & Stove
Yes, eight days ago while we had overnight guests, our one-year-old refrigerator decided to suddenly stop working at around 8 pm. The repairman cannot come until tomorrow. Nine days later. Thankfully, we do have a small fridge in our detached garage - but,i t’s not that convenient. And then yesterday morning when I was turning on our oven to self-clean, there was a small explosion under the front right burner. This burner had been acting up for about a month doing something I have never seen a stove do - it would turn on by itself when I turned on the burner behind it. One time it just turned on when I set a pan on it. Alas, stress comes in many forms.
Just about any stress can be a tempting enough excuse to catapult one into a cupcake shop, and do this thing another day, or another week, or on Jan 1 of ‘27. And after all, Fourth of July is in a few days, the big 250th, and that is worth celebrating with treats and indulgences.
But don’t listen to that Tempter sitting on your left shoulder whispering in your ear.
Instead, calmly take out your lists from last week or start them today.
To make it easy, here are the list items again. All you need is something to write on and with. I like composition notebooks, but spiral notebooks and moleskins work well too.
Write down current pain points, like lack of energy, weight concerns, skin issues, joint pain, gut issues, etc. What you want to be different.
Write down your intention for the week that can address one of your pain points. Make it challenging, but doable. Something that can move the needle with your health.
Write down why this goal is important to you.
Need Ideas for things to work on? Here are 26:
Get Your Nice On: Start your morning with a little Bible reading and prayer.
The Morning Hydrator: Drink a full glass of water before your first cup of coffee.
The Post-Meal Walk: Take a 10-minute walk after your biggest meal to quell glucose spikes.
Posture Check: Look at yourself sideways in the mirror, and adjust your posture. Do doorway stretches to improve. (Hands at about shoulder level, then lean gently forward.)
The Soda Swap: Replace one sugary drink (or fruit juice) with sparkling water.
The Sun Seeker: Get morning light in your eyes as soon as possible, preferably within 30 minutes of waking.
The Micro-Workout: Do 10 squats or counter pushups while waiting for your coffee to brew or water to boil.
The Step Booster: Park at a far-away parking space when out and about.
Carb Crusher: Eat your protein and non-carby vegetables before carbs to blunt the glucose spike.
Spread Some Sunshine: Do a kind act for someone daily.
The Protein Push: Eat more protein to crowd out carbs and be more satiated.
Go AF: Try eliminating all alcohol. (AF=Alcohol Free)
Screen Exile: Stop using devices at least one hour before bed.
Food Brake: End all food & drink consumption by 7 or 7:30 pm (except water, of course).
Daily Offload: AKA Brain Dump - Set a timer for 5-10 minutes. Write down everything stressing you out. Then circle only the things you can do something about today.
Nighttime To-Do List: Each evening write out a to-do list. Your brain will be able to rest more easily knowing it is all under control.
The Spine Saver: Set a timer to stand up and stretch for 2 minutes every hour at work.
The Label Reader: Check food packages for processed seed or vegetable oils before buying.
Pantry Purge: Organize your pantry and box up the junk food or put it out of site.
Refrigerator/Freezer Cleanout: Throw away old food, wipe down shelves and drawers to be ready to fill with life-giving food.
Sleep Master: Get 7-8 hours of quality sleep nightly.
Step It Up: Up your pedometer mojo by 1000 steps daily.
Sugar Detective: Reduce your sugar and sweets intake by 50%. Or 100% if you are ready for that.
Gratitude Attitude: Think about 5 things you are grateful for as you are winding down your day.
Dancing Queen: Dance to 2 songs each day. (Or 3 or 4!)
Nature Nurture: Ground on some grass or warm sand, bare some skin to the sun (before 10 am or after 4 pm), hug a tree, or just enjoy the sky, the trees, the birds, the breeze. (I feel a poem coming on.)
Anyway, those are just some ideas, brain fertilizer. See what resonates with you. Choose something important to you to develop into a habit. Do it, then do it again. To use a football analogy, gain some yardage, get a first down. Keep going until you get that ball down the field.
Over the next 26 weeks, those little micro-habits will compound. By the time we ring in 2027, you won’t need a list of resolutions waiting to be broken — you will have built a completely different landscape for your overall wellness.
What is YOUR one thing this week?
Do You Want/Need Help 26’ing?
As your health coach, I can help you design the exact roadmap, troubleshoot the roadblocks, and provide the help you need to turn these tiny steps into lifelong transformation. Hit reply and we can explore this possibility by scheduling a free info call.
I would love for you to share if you are doing 26 in 26. Just hit reply right now and tell me which number you are starting with. And please share this post if you know someone who can benefit from it. Thank you in advance.
Guide & Fellow Traveller,
~Vanessa
www.vanessamarsden.com
The Drink Everyone’s Reaching For This Spring 🍸✨
Spring doesn’t have to mean a packed schedule and another drink you regret tomorrow.
This season, I’m reaching for something different: Vesper by Pique.
Pique is known for blending ancient botanicals with modern science to create elevated wellness essentials. Vesper might be my favorite yet. It’s a non-alcoholic, adaptogenic aperitif that delivers the relaxed, social glow of a cocktail. Without alcohol or the next-day fog.
It’s what I pour when I want something special in my glass on a bright spring evening. Each sip feels celebratory and uplifting. Relaxed body. Clear mind. No haze. No sleep disruption.
Crafted with L-theanine, lemon balm, gentian root, damiana, and elderflower, Vesper is sparkling, tart, and beautifully herbaceous.
If you’re ready for a new kind of happy hour, try Vesper here. 🌿✨
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