by Samantha M.C. Luck
Reflect on 2026 Before You Plan for 2027
This is not another “set your goals for next year” article.
Even though we’re in the thick of the fourth quarter and our minds naturally drift toward next year, let’s take a beat. Sit down with a notepad and pen — analog style — and think about work and life in 2026.
I know. When you’re climbing the corporate ladder, closing out a project before year-end, or getting your supervisor to sign off on 2027 objectives, it’s hard to sit quietly and think about the past.
But if you’re honest with yourself, was 2026 what you wanted it to be?
Were you overwhelmed? Did you work weekends when you don’t work weekends? Did you pull an all-nighter when you should have slept like healthy people do? Did you say what needed to be said in the meeting instead of pushing it down? Did you feel accomplished this year?
Give Yourself 50 Minutes
Set a timer for 50 minutes. Put your phone away. Open your notebook and answer:
What am I proud of this year?
When did I feel most energized by my work?
What consistently drained me?
What did I learn about myself?
Where did I make progress — even if no one else noticed?
What did work take from me that I don't want to give again next year?
What do I want to leave in 2026?
Don’t turn this into another assignment. There are no right answers. You’re simply paying attention.
Harvard Business School professor emerita Teresa Amabile and psychologist Steven Kramer studied nearly 12,000 daily diary entries from 238 professionals to better understand our “inner work lives” — the emotions, perceptions, and motivations we experience as we make sense of our workdays. Their research found that making progress on meaningful work, even in small ways, can have a powerful effect on how we experience work.
That’s one reason reflection matters. Sometimes we’re moving so quickly that we don't recognize our progress — or the patterns telling us something needs to change.
Now Look Toward 2027
London Business School professor Herminia Ibarra has studied career transitions and professional identity. Her work reminds us that our relationship with work can evolve. We can reconsider not only what we do, but how much space we want work to occupy in our lives.
So before you write your 2027 goals, answer one final question:
How do I want work to feel in 2027?
Maybe your answer is meaningful. Creative. Calm. Challenging. Flexible. Purposeful.
Then ask: What needs to change to make that possible?
You don't have to enter a new year determined to do more.
Perhaps the wisdom you gained in 2026 is showing you how to work differently.
Close out the year by listening to it.
Samantha M.C. Luck is a workplace well-being strategist, writer, novelist, and children's author. Whether she's helping professionals create calmer, more intentional workdays, writing novels that explore personal growth and purpose, or inspiring children to grow courageous, confident, and kind, her mission is to help people thrive at work, at home, and in life. You can find her at www.samanthamcluck.com.