Well! That was Christmas. It was a cracker. I hope you had a good one. We won’t go on about it though.

I do like the start of a new year as a chance to think about what I want to do in the coming year. Just like in 2025, these are not really resolutions, just things I’d like to get better at, do more of, or try out. Some carry on over from last year, and some are additions. This year I’m going to break them into areas of life. There will be overlap, especially with health and family, but for the sake of decent headings I think it’s for the best! A warning. This might be a long one.

Fitness & Health

This feels like the easiest place to start. It might be the easiest to set targets (and probably the most likely place for me to miss targets) but I’m aware that as I’m getting older I need to get better at staying active and moving more. I know that staying active now will help with being able to stay active in later years. I don’t think I’ve missed the boat, I’ve got to believe it’s not too late to strengthen habits, and even shape new ones.

One thing I really plan to make better use of, and get more involved in, is a running community. The Sheffield Business Runners (SBR) is something that I’ve joined the edges of, but want to spend more time on. They are a great group, for business networking but also for running advice, community, and support. So Aim 1: Run with SBR at least twice a month. They meet weekly on Mondays (and other times) and I can sensibly fit that in after work, it would be a way to make a regular 5k loop with other people, some of whom are really knowledgable runners. I’ve only been a few times this last year so will improve that in 2026.

I would really like to do the Oxford Half Marathon (or any flat half marathon, I think) but instead of saying this early in the year that I’m going to do, I’m going to do some prep work. Build up the LSR to 10 miles and generally try to get into a healthy rhythm of running before making an actual decision. I think a 16 week training plan would be ok, which means I have until May / June to decide on whether I attempt a decent Oxford Half. So this doesn’t make it into the aims, but Aim 2: Run three sessions a week does. The target for now is comfortable 10km running and regular long slow running. Nothing more than that really.

Finally - Aim 3: Don’t drive to work. This one is a pretty easy way to help me move more. I can run, cycle and walk to work. Five days, exercise done. It’s 3.5 miles, and I can extend when needed.

That’s it for fitness and health. But a quick aside for details of the

30 Day Reset

This is something that SBR are running in January, and I’m going to join. It’s pretty straight forward. There’s a WhatsApp group for support and accountability and the aims are as follows (with my ‘target’ in brackets)

  • Avoid ultra-processed foods (Just do this one)
  • Drink 2-2.5l of water (And this one)
  • Quit or cut back on something you overdo (100% Snacking At Work)
  • 60 minutes of movement every day (See fitness stuff)
  • Write 3 things you’re grateful for (New notebook alert!)
  • Start a new hobby or learn something new (More on this another time)

Work

Aim 4: Be in a job I want to stay in within twelve months

I’ve just put that straight out there, but need a very quick caveat to it in case my boss reads this (Hi Jim… 😬) This does not mean a change of job I could quite comfortably be working at Unit and still say this is a success. But I think something needs to change. Be that the way that I perform at work, or the specific role I do. That might mean a new place of work, but I suspect it won’t. I want to move away from just WordPress websites. I want to develop, and I want to make things better. I can see that happening at Unit. I can see it being a good year, so my aim here is really to take control of what I can, and get it done!

I know this isn’t often said, but I’d also like to work more. I’m only a 4/5 contract just now which means I should have a day available for other projects or learning or something. I’d like to use that time better. And the extra money would help.

Maybe this section should have been saved for my review

Other stuff

Aim 5: Play some more cricket

I toy with dropping this one and moving on. I struggled this season with putting myself forward for games, and I struggled even more with going to group net sessions. It’s like I want to play cricket but I don’t want to. But this stays. I have to get over that. I’m going to try and net this season, so that I get better. I want to learn how to throw a ball, and bowl a ball in the nets without it hitting the ceiling. And my match target… I’ll go for it. Play 10 games. Better average than last season - so that means higher than 22.

Aim 6: Write and draw more

A few years ago I did Draw Every Day in January. Maybe I should pick that up again for a month. It really made me smile. So my aim for this creative element is to produce more writing, probably here on iamalso.co.uk. Once a month, something I’m happy with that isn’t just a “I did this” type post. It might be vageuly technical, it might be something else. But once a month, write and share that with the world - probably via LinkedIn. And the drawing thing. Yeah - that too. #DrawEveryDay. Start with January, see how it goes.

And I think that’s it.

Oh - one more thing needed for the January Reset is the Learn Something New. I’m not sure what that’s going to be in January, but I’d really like it to be something difficult. Maybe the piano (this would be tough). Or maybe German. Or maybe some kind of woodwork. All three feel like things that are slightly more than just a January thing, but certainly the piano or woodwork would take more than just an impromptu “January Reset” decision. In truth, this might not happen in January. My hope is I’ll finalise a plan and make a start. I’ll update this aim later.

Right. That is it.