I love a good challenge. If you tell me I can’t do something I’ll definitely accomplish it! But there’s a different kind of challenge that I struggle with….. Getting things done. I overestimate what I can do in a day/week/month. My mind tells me to aim high, but if I stumble in the least bit I fall off the wagon completely. I’m trying to change bad habits, so I’m doing the 26 Before 2026 Challenge.
It’s a goal setting challenge (so to speak) that I will aim to complete 26 tasks (that have been on my list of things to do) and do them, or finish them up, before 2026 arrives.
Here’s my challenge to you. I would love for you to make your own list and join me. You have until the end of 2025 to complete all 26 goals on your list.
The last time I did a list like this was my 18 Before 2018 list. I can’t believe I haven’t done this in 7 years! Yikes!!!
Anyway, there are so many things I would love to put on my list. But I can only add 26 things, so…..
All the “things” will be things I need to finish. But to make my list a bit shorter I only added them to my list if they were somehow related to my WOTY (word of the year). This year my word was “HELP“. If I’m being honest, this year was a fail when it comes to my word of the year. I’ve had year’s where I did so good, but this just wasn’t one of them. I will carry over my idea into next year, while still focusing on a new word.
When I sat down to think about my list (it’s been years since I did one!) I knew there were so many things I want to do or finish up…..way more than 26! I decided to keep it more focused I would incorporate my overall yearly theme into it. This year my word of the year was Help. My goal was to help as many people as I could in life and in my business. Well, this year was tough for me personally and I didn’t really focus on that word as much as I wanted to. BUT, I still have the rest of the year to work on it.
26 Before ’26 Challenge
I have certainly worked on my business this year and made HUGE progress. But I also wanted to know that I had helped people succeed in their crochet endeavors. And I don’t feel like I did enough of that. But the year isn’t over! I have 11 weeks left! When thinking about what to put on 26 before 2026 list, most of the things I chose were things that would somehow help others in one way or another. Might be a round about way but there was a connection (like changing the font on my crochet site. Not a direct help, but if it’s easier to read and google likes it better, it will help.) I also added those things that will have the most impact at the end of the year. I did also add some personal tasks.
Here’s my 26 Before 2026 list
1) Plan my 12 Days of Christmas event – Every year I do this event with another designer and would like to plan ahead this year so I have a few new patterns to add to the sale.
2) Create a process checklist and content plan for 2026 – I will begin to use a process checklist and an editorial calendar for my blogging. This will help me get a better focus on daily and weekly tasks, while also planning ahead. UPDATE: Process checklist is done. (10/24/25) Still working on content plan.
3) Record Business Expenses – I’ve gotten pretty good over the years with keeping my bookkeeping up-to-date, but this year I haven’t stayed on top of logging my expenses. I am committing to getting all my books in order before the end of the year so that when I file my state business taxes in Jan I will be all caught up! UPDATE: Finished on 11/18/25.
4) Have 3 patterns ready to launch in January – I have had one BIG pattern idea in my head for at least 6 or 7 years. I am committing to making it and having the pattern and video tutorials ready to launch right after the holidays, as well as a couple other smaller design ideas!
5) Make, edit, and add all short video tutorials – I had started a Learn to Crochet playlist on my Youtube channel but have not finished the videos for it. I will have them all recorded, edited, and uploaded before the holidays.
6) Video for new chemo hat – This one will probably be the first one crossed off the list because, as I write this list people are having questions about it. UPDATE: Completed 10/20/25
7) Pick a new Word of the Year – I have been doing this every year for at least 7 or 8 years, but this is the first year I am struggling to come up with a word. Usually it comes to me late summer or early fall. Not sure why, but I’ll be doing some soul searching and making a decision before 2026 gets here!
8) Add graphics to Etsy listings – My daughter started creating some graphics for my Etsy listings, but I have not made time to add them to the listings. I will get them added so I can create more for the remaining listings.
9) Publish a hard copy of my planner and use it – I am a paper planner person. I am not always great at remembering things the past 10-ish years, so I write them down. 2025 was a fail. My planner design was in the works so I didn’t buy one…. Then there was a delay with the designer and, well….. I didn’t use a planner at all this year…..which I believe is some of the reason I did not accomplish as many goals as I had hoped.
10) Publish the digital copy of my planner – Originally my design idea was for an actual paper planner, but as my idea snowballed and started to come to life, I decided I also wanted to be able to sell a digital copy of it. So, I need to get this done and ready to sell! 🙂
11) My Top 10 patterns of 2025 – Compile a list of my top 10 blanket patterns of 2025 for my annual Top 10 Sale. Plan sale accordingly. UPDATE: List is compiled and sale is planned (11/28/25)
12) Pick stitches for my sampler blankets – Pick out stitches and color layout, and map out/plan my next 2 blankets. UPDATE: Colors picked (10/21/25)
13) Decided on red, white, and blue blanket – Solidify and plan new red, white, and blue design for 2026. Pick release date and type of pattern.
14) Plan releases for 2026 – Decide on how many designs and which ones will be released when.
15) Pick yarn(s) – I will pick out and buy my yarn for my first 5 blankets of 2026. All blankets will be similar/complimentary colors for 2026, so I’m excited about this!!
16) Update old blog posts – Find and remove all old sale info and graphics from older posts and patterns. I will also at the same time check for broken links (see #19). Hopefully this will also help my google rankings.
17) Change website font – I’ve been told google doesn’t like the font on my Ambassador Crochet site, so I’m going to find one it does and change it out. I personally like it, but sometimes google has the power to make us change so they’ll show our work to people. lol
UPDATE: I cannot change the font on my current theme, so I may have to move this to the beg of 2026 and change to a whole new theme.
18) Find and fix broken links on my website – I’m not sure how to do this, but I’m going to figure it out and get them fixed!
19) Have game day at least 1x month with my kids – I want to set aside some time to have a family day outing or game day at least once a month with the kids. We used to do pizza and movie night, but life changed a lot the past few years and I miss it.
20) Declutter my office – This year I decluttered a lot of my home and the peace it brought me was amazing. I do have some rooms in my house (like my office) that didn’t get done. I will clear it out and create a space that helps me think and get my creative juices flowing.
21) Get to DMV – At the end of 2024 my ex-husband passed away and I have a small boat sitting in my yard that needs to be transfered to my name. It hasn’t been a big priority, but I need to make it one. UPDATE: Went to DMV, but have to go back to court before I can go back to DMV…..*sigh
22) Set up accounts for girls – I have 2 bank accounts that need to be set up for my girls. Again, hasn’t been a big priority, but I need to get it done. 🙂
23) Find health ins for my kids – When my husband passed, his employer gave my kids health insurance for 1 year. That year is coming to an end and I need to find them new insurance.
24) Declutter stairwell – I have stairs that go down into the basement. There were shelves built into the wall and, over the years stuff we no longer use has accumulated. I will declutter and get rid of anything that is no longer needed or used. UPDATE: Completed 10/21/25
25) Lose 10 lbs + 10 inches – This boils down to getting back in a fitness routine. I haven’t run hardly at all in the past year and I’m feeling frumpy and unhappy. I know working out boosts my mood and makes me feel better, so I am going to make it habit again.
26) Declutter my clothes – I have a 100 year old house and, if you know anything about old houses, they don’t have a lot of closet or storage space. My bedroom has NO closet, so my drawers are stuffed and overflowing. I’m going to go through them and get rid of a few things to make my space more manageable. UPDATE: Am slowly working through this one.
BONUS – Get both my business email, as well as my personal email, down to zero…. UPDATE: As of 11/28/25 I am approx. 75% done with my business and about 25% done with my personal.
Phew! This list feels long, and maybe a bit redundant because some of the tasks overlap. Either way, I am charged to have it all in writing so I can get to work!
I will come back weekly and update with what has been accomplished. At the end of the year, I will be ready for 2026 and excited about all I have gotten finished!
Are You Ready?
Believe it or not the end of the year is right around the corner! So many times, the year comes to a close and I wish I had finished or done way more than I have. Don’t let this year end that way!
Here’s to Ending 2025 Strong!
