How to Choose Three Priorities for 2026—and Let Everything Else Be Optional

If everything feels important…

nothing actually is.

And if your calendar is packed wall-to-wall, chances are it’s not reflecting your values, it’s reflecting your anxiety.

Before you plan for 2026, there’s one decision that will make everything else easier:

Choose three priorities that matter most.

Not ten. Not “everything, but with better time management.”

Three.

Why Three (and Not More)

Three is intentional.

Three is doable.

Three is enough to guide decisions without overwhelming you.

When you have too many priorities:

• Every request feels urgent

• Every opportunity feels tempting

• Every “no” feels heavy

But when you’re clear on your top three, your calendar becomes a filter—not a dumping ground.

You stop asking, “Can I fit this in?”

And start asking, “Does this support what matters most right now?”

That’s a powerful shift.

Step One: Decide What Actually Matters in This Season

This isn’t about what should matter.

It’s about what matters to you in 2026.

Your priorities might look like:

• Growing your business without burning out

• Protecting your health and energy

• Being more present at home

• Creating financial breathing room

• Having a margin for rest and creativity

Notice what’s missing from that list:

Perfection. Hustle. Doing it all.

Your life doesn’t need to look impressive.

It needs to feel sustainable.

Step Two: Let Everything Else Become Optional

This is where the relief shows up.

Optional doesn’t mean unimportant.

It means not the boss.

When something doesn’t align with your top three:

• You’re allowed to say no

• You’re allowed to delay it

• You’re allowed to do it imperfectly... or not at all

Optional creates breathing room.

Optional gives you flexibility.

Optional keeps your priorities from getting crowded out by noise.

Step Three: Make Your Calendar Match Your Decisions

Your calendar tells the truth.

If your priorities aren’t showing up there, they’re just wishes.

Look at a week on your calendar and ask:

• Where do my top three actually live?

• What’s taking up time that doesn’t support them?

• What needs to move, be shortened, or be eliminated?

Your planner isn’t there to judge you.

It’s there to support the life you’re choosing—on purpose.

Planning Without Anxiety

A full calendar doesn’t equal a fulfilled life.

Clarity does.

When your schedule reflects your decisions instead of your fears, planning feels calmer. Kinder. More doable.

You don’t need to do everything in 2026.

You just need to do the right things, consistently.

Choose three.

Let the rest be optional.

And give yourself permission to live there.

Until tomorrow, you’ve got this.