The new year can bring a renewed focus on our priorities. We reflect on what we want to do differently, what we want to protect, and what we want to do with more attention and intention. For many professionals, however, the challenge isn’t only knowing what matters but figuring out how to make it all fit.
Exercise is a good example. For me, physical activity is an essential part of my lifestyle, supporting my energy, ability to focus, and overall sense of balance. Ideally, I’d like to do it in the morning, but mornings are also when I do my best writing and substantive editing. That time is difficult to replace and giving it up never feels right.
This means that exercise usually ends up in the late afternoon, and while this solution is feasible, at that time my energy is lower and calendars are fuller with family activities. It really feels like I’m squeezing it in rather than building it into my day.
One of my priorities for 2026 is to be more deliberate about my well-being as a freelancer. I may set aside a few early mornings each week specifically for exercise, while protecting others for deep work. Because my exercise routines are typically 30 minutes, this will leave plenty of time for morning writing and editing.
This is the new exercise schedule I’m hoping to implement starting this month:
Monday: Pilates — 8:00–8:30 AM
Tuesday: Cardio Workout — 5:00–5:30 PM
Thursday: Strength Workout — 8:00–8:30 AM
Friday: Longer Outdoor Walk — 7:30–8:00 AM
Saturday: Pilates — 10:00–10:50 AM
Note: For additional energy boosts, I also weave shorter walks into my routine every day.
These kinds of balancing acts come up in coaching conversations. Professionals may have goals and motivation, but just like me, they may struggle navigating competing demands on their time and energy.
That’s where coaching can be especially valuable. In the Evergreen Coaching Program, we help clients step back and look at how their work, breaks, and personal habits may best fit together. The goal isn’t a rigid schedule or a perfect routine, but a realistic rhythm that supports both performance and well-being.
Setting priorities for the new year may just be about small adjustments that make space for what matters to us.