At the flip of the calendar, you likely set high hopes for the year, establishing various milestones you want to reach. But as you settle into your routine and your schedule fills up, you may find it harder and harder to keep up with your resolutions. Instead of becoming discouraged, however, it might be time to try some alternative approaches to traditional goal setting. With a change of mindset and strategy, your good intentions may just become a little less daunting and a little more achievable.
Resolutions are all about identifying and committing to ways you can improve your life. Maybe you want to hit 10,000 steps each day and put 5 percent more toward your retirement savings than you did in 2025. With such wide-ranging goals, you may wind up feeling pulled in too many different directions, quickly becoming overwhelmed by all the things you want to do.
This year, instead of opting for a variety of different intentions, pick a single theme, such as “Year of Adventure.” This one idea can then serve as the guiding light for all your actions throughout the coming months. Following the example of adventure, you might aim to save more each month for a dream trip, learn a new activity that may have otherwise seemed too daunting, or even start tackling your bucket list. By having one specific theme, you may feel more excited about what’s ahead rather than stressed over trying to juggle too many specific and unrelated goals.
One big problem with goals is that once they’re reached, people often just move on to something else. For instance, say you set a goal to lose ten pounds. To hit it, you go to the gym, eat a little healthier, and watch the number on the scale drop to your target weight. At that point, though, you may simply stop all the positive behaviors you’ve picked up because they no longer have a purpose. That’s where the idea of system setting comes into play. Focusing on systems instead of outcomes means prioritizing the process over the end result, which can ultimately lead to more sustainable lifestyle changes and better habits.
As an example, consider the behaviors of athletes. They all want to win each game or match. However, some aim to do so simply by preparing for the individual game itself, while others focus on preparing themselves for the challenge. So where one player may only do what their coach instructs them to every day, another may build their own regimen on top of that for studying and strategizing the game plan, conducting extra workouts, and fine-tuning their skills. Who do you think is more likely to succeed? Such habitual systems are what can help you to make real progress toward your aspirations and inspire greater changes in your day-to-day life.
“Anti-goals” offer a refreshing twist to the conventional notion of resolutions, centering on what you want to avoid versus what you want to achieve. For instance, if you intend to spend less time scrolling on your phone, a helpful anti-goal might be to set a time limit on certain sites and apps. This strategy works backward, starting with a specific aspect of your life you don’t like, to help you establish rules for preventing a worst-case scenario, such as spending five hours a day on social media. By establishing anti-goals, you can foster a better understanding of what’s impeding your progress and growth and become more empowered to confront potential obstacles head-on.
This year, ditch the usual rigid resolutions and embrace these alternative strategies. Trying a new approach may allow you to transcend the limitations you’ve faced in the past and forge a path toward more sustainable progress and greater success.
It’s always fun to buy something new for yourself or your home, whether it’s a TV, piece of jewelry, or decorative trinket. Such an item can bring joy, but it can also easily get lost in the chaos of everything else you own. A memento may wind up being shoved into the back of your hall closet and not resurface for a couple of years.
That’s where a home inventory comes in handy. Besides helping you keep a well-organized home, it can play an important part in your homeowner’s insurance process. If you’ve never done one before or even really thought about what it entails, then consider moving it to the top of your to-do list for 2026.
A home inventory is a collection of all your personal possessions that you can turn to should you ever need to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance. It tends to include a description of the items you own, their purchase dates, serial numbers, and estimated values, and copies of receipts. Though you likely won’t have all this information for each item, collecting as much as you can will help you keep track of the different objects you own and how many of each you have.
However, for high-ticket items in your home that aren’t easily replaced, such as electronics and family heirlooms, it is essential to get either a copy of the receipt or an appraisal to include in your inventory. First, doing so can help you purchase the right amount of coverage for your home. Just as important, it can ultimately make the whole filing process a little easier—if you must file a claim because an object is stolen or damaged in a way that falls under your insurance policy, you will have proof of owning it as well as its estimated value.
While it’s best to have a home inventory for insurance purposes, it can also be a useful way to organize your place. Having clutter-free living spaces can play a big part in your mental health as it can help you better relax, thus reducing stress and anxiety. Whatever may be motivating you, be sure to take the time to sort through and catalog your possessions.
The kind of inventory you make will depend on your personal preference. You can do a written, digital, or visual inventory or any combination of the three, so consider which option you think would be simplest for you to reference back to and regularly update.
If you’re overwhelmed by the idea of creating a home inventory, just remember to take it one step at a time. You don’t have to look through everything you own all at once—choose one room or closet and then sort through your items in that specific area, deciding what you want to keep, donate, or toss. This is your chance to declutter your spaces, so if you haven’t used an item in years, perhaps it’s time to say goodbye to it. You also might find belongings you forgot about, which gives you the chance to make better use of them.
After sorting through your items, take note of what you’re keeping. You can do this via your chosen method, such as by writing down each item or cataloging it in an app. Include a description of the items as well as the serial numbers and any other information you know about them. Your goal here is to keep track of as many details as possible so you can easily reference them in the future. After you’re done sorting and inventorying each object in that area, take a picture of the fully completed space.
When you’re finished with the first room, you can then move through the different locations of your home, repeating this process in each one. Bring your partner or kids into the mix, making it a family affair. (Just ensure that they don’t make the process take longer.) And don’t forget about items you have stored outside the home, such as in a shed, garage, or storage unit, since those are often covered under homeowner’s insurance as well and may need to be organized or decluttered.
Ultimately, a home inventory is a great way for you to keep track of the items in your home both for your own purposes and for filing a claim for lost or damaged items. Either way, it’s never a bad idea to keep records of what you own, so make time this year to work your way through your rooms and take note of your most valued and valuable possessions.
Southern California-based abstract painter Monica Gava delves into her ongoing artistic journey and the impassioned instincts that fuel her work.
When did you discover that you had a gift for the arts?
I’ve had an artistic spark in me since I was a kid growing up in Brazil—almost like it is just part of who I am. I wasn’t the kind of child who spent time playing with dolls or pretending to be a princess. Instead, I would get lost for hours filling in coloring books, making collages, scrapbooking, and even pretending to run my own stationery store.
How did you begin creating art professionally?
I was introduced to graphic design in high school and then went on to study advertising in college, which was my first real dive into the professional creative world. I did some freelance gigs crafting logos and branding for local clients, and after graduating, I worked as a copywriter for a decade. But when I moved to the States with my husband in 2021 to study graphic design at the University of California, Irvine, I realized that my true passion wasn’t being fulfilled. That’s when I shifted my focus and took my first steps to revive my old dream of becoming an artist.
I took countless hours of art workshops and began painting small florals and landscapes on paper with mixed media and vibrant colors. As I studied impressionism, color mixing, and composition (or how different visual elements of a painting relate to one another), I gradually found my true voice and my style started to shape into what it is today. Now I can say that I’m a professional fine artist.
Who are some of your biggest influences?
I’ve been inspired by classic painters like Monet and Van Gogh and more recent ones like Cy Twombly, who’s a good reminder of how to abandon my consciousness and follow my instincts to convey abstract emotions visually. However, my newer work is heavily influenced by Paul Cézanne’s color palette; like him, I use warm and cold versions of the same color to add dimension to my abstract pieces.
Would you walk us through your creative process?
Curiosity is my driving force. I find myself constantly experimenting with new materials, seeking to discover what resonates with me at any given moment. Right now, acrylics, watercolors, and inks are my primary tools, but my work is far from confined to these. What excites me most is how each material behaves and how I can push its limits to create something unique. One layer of torn paper might complement the transparency of a watercolor wash in a way I couldn’t anticipate.
A central element of my practice is layering multiple coats of paint to transform a flat surface into something textured, dynamic, and vibrant. For my works on canvas, I mostly use the adding and subtracting technique, where paint is applied to the surface but also removed with different tools while it’s still wet. Slowly, the juxtaposition of these layers creates depth and complexity, turning a simple surface into something multidimensional.
Your work was featured on Disney+. What was that experience like?
That story starts with an email from a potential buyer on my Etsy store. But this wasn’t any ordinary message—she was interested in purchasing one of my pieces for use on a movie set. My first instinct? Spam. But the conversation unfolded, and after some back-and-forth, the deal was set. Then, in a twist that felt like something out of a movie itself, she told me to keep an eye out for the film Crater on Disney+.
I eventually sat down to watch it with my husband and kids, saying, “Let’s see who will spot my piece first!” I did: it was hung on a wall of a room where the main characters gathered. It was a “pinch me” moment, knowing that my art had contributed to a world far beyond my studio. But the best part of all was hearing my family say they were proud of me.
What are some of your latest projects?
I’m working on a new collection of landscape-inspired pieces with a twist. Normally, I love allowing my materials to speak for themselves. For this newer body of work, though, I’m taking a more intentional approach, painting layers in a way that suggests a horizon, mountains, or even a more dreamlike, abstract scene that still feels grounded in nature. It’s a fun challenge to push myself out of my comfort zone and experiment with creating something that feels familiar but fresh at the same time, and I am thrilled to see how it comes out.
For more info, visit monicagava.com or follow Monica on Instagram @koketistudio
As housing and other living costs remain high in the United States, more families are choosing to live in multigenerational homes, often sharing chores and expenses. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, the number of individuals living in such households in the United States quadrupled to almost sixty million people between 1971 and 2021. This setup can offer a number of different benefits for everyone involved, but navigating it isn’t always smooth. Check out what advantages you can expect with this option along with some tactics for making it work.
Naturally, a major perk of sharing a multigenerational home is that it may help ease the financial burden of living expenses, primarily the mortgage, property taxes, and utility bills. This may, of course, depend on the individual situations of those you’re living with; elderly relatives, for instance, will likely be on a fixed income and may be unable to contribute much. But even then, you could discuss sharing other costs, such as groceries, home maintenance, transportation, or even streaming services. These savings can add up, allowing you to gather funds for other financial goals, whether you’re saving for something big like your child’s college education or small like a weekend getaway.
Moreover, multigenerational living can offer a network of support that each person in the house can rely on. Perhaps your relative would be willing to help watch your kids while you’re at work or take care of your pet while you’re away, both providing you peace of mind that they’re in good hands and cutting your costs. Likewise, more people in the home can better ensure that someone is there in case an elderly individual has a health emergency or dangerous fall.
Other benefits include potentially increased protection for your home from break-ins—since it being occupied more often may dissuade intruders—and the ability to split chores. And if someone isn’t a fan of doing the dishes or scrubbing the toilets, there are plenty of other people in the household perhaps willing to trade it for something they’d rather avoid.
Living in the same home is a great way to strengthen family ties with other generations or extended family members you may have grown apart from due to various moves or the busyness of life. Even if your time is still limited, you can gain opportunities to bond during day-to-day activities, from making dinner to cleaning the house. And in being surrounded by those you love, you might grow to experience a comforting feeling of belonging and support.
Furthermore, sharing a household can provide physical and mental gains for everyone involved. For instance, studies show that interactions between older adults and younger individuals can reduce anxiety, aid cognitive function, and increase physical activity for the former and assist the latter in developing useful life skills and their emotional intelligence. Staying with family may also help elderly individuals avoid the depression and loneliness that is often prevalent among this demographic while possibly even aiding in extending their lifespans.
When navigating the dynamics of a multigenerational home, it’s important to prioritize the needs of each person to better ensure that everyone can live well together. Here are four keys to keep in mind.
Accessibility
Evaluate how comfortable and safe your house is for residents of all age levels. For example, if you’re moving your adult child and their family in, you may want to add babyproofing features like secure gates and locks. Conversely, if you’re merging homes with your elderly parents, items like grab bars, nonslip flooring, and a chairlift may be crucial.
Communication
Make expectations and responsibilities clear from the get-go, and strive to keep lines of communication open, such as through regular family meetings. If relationships start to become strained, consider seeking help from a family counselor or therapist, who can offer advice to help overcome these obstacles and improve discussion.
Privacy
In a more crowded home, respecting each other’s personal space is essential. Explore solutions like instituting a knock-first policy and adding a sliding barn door between connected rooms in an open floor plan. Additionally, establish agreed-upon quiet times and ask everyone to be mindful of their noise levels—though in a pinch, a pair of noise-canceling headphones could come in handy.
Storage
Sharing a home with more people means there’ll be more stuff, so find ways to provide ample storage for your loved one’s belongings and keep your spaces tidy. This could include bringing in additional dressers or designating an area in the garage, attic, or basement for each person.
Multigenerational living isn’t for everyone, but it can present a viable solution for many. Approach it with consideration, respect, and open communication, and you can make it a rewarding and enriching experience for all.
