I think this is the best platform for this project. It feels personal, yet conversational, with writing at its core and that's the ideal balance for content I am creating for consumption. <3

Welcome.

My name is Layne and I am changing my life in 2026. 

I haven't claimed 2026 as my year because every year I've done that has all but exploded. I am, however, making 2026 my transitional year to flourish into the person I have always wanted to be. Before we start that, I need to figure out what that looks like and my best practice to get there without burning out. Like most millennials, I took to Pinterest and built myself a 2026 vision board.

I'm nestled in the corner of my parents' basement closed in by two black wall dividers. I have a small window above my bed that is covered with a lace curtain and overlooks the driveway. I've brought my bed, all of my pillows, two bookshelves, my desk, my craft cart, and my dresser. I've also cried three times this week because I miss living in my bedroom, in my own space where I can have alone time, and being with my partner 24/7. However, this move is the best choice for me financially right now.

Making two changes of this caliber was the catalyst for making changes through the rest of my person. I am not making a list of goals for the year because I am interested in the lifestyle changes rather than accomplishing something like my life is on a checklist.

1. I have done my AM & PM skincare all week. 
2. Started writing morning pages for The Artists’ Way
3. Picking/cleaning up after myself when I make a mess or use something.
4. Using body butter daily (gotta stay moisturized in this cold!)
5. Meal prepping for work + tracking my food (this week was Gardein ground beef, potatoes, and Pico de Gallo for a sort of burger bowl.)
6. Consuming protein within a half hour of waking up and saving caffeine for about 90 minutes after waking up.
7. Being on time for work and activities that involve other people.
8. Packing my bag the night before work (which I have yet to do tonight for week two lol)

I have been enjoying the Artist's Way so far. I might start a series on here where I work through it week by week and discuss everything I have done, what I have learned, and if it is opening up creative airwaves. I also bought the Shadow Work Journal a while ago and I'd like to get into that at some point.

Between writing poetry, trying to write a novel, catching up on crafts, all of the things I didn't do in the seven months I was not working. 

Through this week, I've been finding comfort in Gilmore Girls, which is a surprise to nobody. I have fallen asleep listening to episodes on Netflix, watch it while getting ready for work, and play the soundtrack while I drive. It has served as a constant for me, which right now I need more than ever. 

I have given full emotional control to my horoscope via Co-Star and my Daylist on Spotify. I'm treading the fine line between putting in the work and letting the universe do its work for me. Today’s Daylist is called ‘soft rock classic oldies Monday early morning,’ icyww. Co-Star also lists Dos and Don’ts for the day and I have been giving some effort to following those as a translucent guideline for my day. 

Aside from Co-Star and daily playlists, I am learning more about my style. I learned somewhere that Sabrina Carpenter nails her aesthetic because she dresses for her Venus sign, so naturally I took back to Pinterest to Google Virgo color palette/aesthetic.

Muted, earthy, all very cool. I've started to utilize this as a core for building my outfits and buying clothes and it has saved me from so many purchases. I also obviously have a few tops that fall outside of this color range because I love them, the way they fit, their color ways, etc., but I also feel like these colors along with my goal aesthetic I've been baby stepping toward marry well. 

This post feels very scattered, but I needed this to be more of an info dump rather than a cohesive trail of progress because so many arms of ideas have been floating around in my head until I found the right platform to get them all out and share them in a way that makes sense. 

I'm thrilled to see who I become. I'm curious if anybody else is on a similar path and how you're wading through. I hope anybody reading this has a wonderful week and I'll chat with you soon. <3