Hey guys, happy New Year! I know this greeting might be a bit late since January has come to an end, but nevertheless, I still want to wish you all a happy New Year. A lot of things have been going on around the world recently, but I hope 2026 has been good to all of you so far. It’s normal to encounter a few bumps here and there, but I truly hope you’re all doing well and feeling good in general.

Anyway, I haven’t really gone through or posted anything yet for this year. I was actually already working on a couple of draft blog posts; one about one of my travels last year, and another about my favorite wellness products that I’ve been using for many years now. However, for this blog post, I want to start the year with something we can all reflect on, if you choose to read it. So this one is going to be about the ins and outs for 2026.

Some of you might have already seen influencers making TikToks or reels about this concept. The idea of listing your ins and outs for the year has been going around, and I find it really meaningful. That’s why I decided to turn it into a blog post.

Looking back and really thinking about it, I believe this is something we can truly work on. It’s a good way for us to reflect on what we want to continue, what we want to improve, and what we want to remove from our lives this year so we can grow and live better.

So first, I’d like to start with the ins.

Ins for 2026:

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Praying

I love praying. It puts my mind at ease and draws me closer to God. I haven't been "in touch" with God for quite some time, and since last year, I have wanted to make an effort to know Him more and have a good relationship with God. There are times when I feel down and lost, but I know I can always find my way back when I pray to God.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Going to church and attending mass every Sunday

Going to church and being in a state of grace are among my goals for this year. Learning more about God and His wonders, I want to hear His word and make it a point to set aside time to glorify Him.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Reading books

I've always believed that we learn more by reading more. There are many ways to learn these days, especially with the power of technology, but there's no denying the power of reading. Whether you are reading fiction or non-fiction, books have the power to enrich our minds and make us better people. It's crazy how some people think reading books these days is something performative. Regardless, reading is always a good deed. Also, I am trying to read at least 10 books this year. Wish me luck!

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Listening to music; discovering new songs and exploring different genres

I used to stick to musical genres that I felt comfortable listening to. Recently, I've been listening to random songs on Spotify and have discovered so much good music. I think it's always a matter of opening our minds to new things, like new music, that opens more doors for us to appreciate life a little bit more.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Exercising

I'm a heavy girl, and I know that it's healthier to have a normal weight. This is a long-term goal that I want to achieve by adding healthy habits to my daily life, such as eating healthier and moving more. I've been hiking and running these days as my form of exercise. I love these two because they are simple, achievable, and don’t require any equipment. Plus, they are free, and both allow me to see new places and breathe fresh air.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Staying in touch with our friends

Most of the time, I am a lone wolf. I'm not a social butterfly at all, but for some reason, I always find friends wherever I go. Friendship is a wonderful gift, and our friends are blessings in our lives. Recently, I've been getting in touch with my friends—both old and new—and it always feels good to spend time with them and know that even when time passes, and everyone gets busy, you always have people you can count on apart from your family.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Keeping our mental health in check

Our mental health is as important as our physical and emotional health. I've learned that even the strongest and wisest people also struggle mentally. It's normal to feel down sometimes, but we have to be aware when we need help and understand that it's nothing to be ashamed of. Every day, we are bombarded with things that can make us think negatively, but we are also surrounded by good things. I want to develop the skill of looking at things positively, especially when they don’t go the way I planned. I also want to encourage everyone to keep their loved ones' mental health in check. You never know what someone else is going through. Let’s all be kind to strangers as well.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Saving; building a stable and healthy savings account

Shopping feels good—let's admit it—but we have to know our limitations. I don't consider myself a huge spender, but I know I have to set aside a reasonable amount for my savings. We don't know when rainy days will come, so a stable and healthy savings account will help us navigate our lives and finances better.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Preparing emergency kits and mini food banks at home.

Last year, the Philippines was hit by natural disasters. It was disheartening to witness others struggle and lose much of what they had invested in, whether material or not. It is never easy to experience loss in any form. I've been thinking deeply about this ever since the COVID-19 pandemic—that emergency kits and food banks are necessary. I'm not talking about what the government can provide, but about what we have to prepare within ourselves and with our families. These are practical and necessary, especially for those of us living in the Philippines, where tropical depressions are common.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Staying hydrated

When was the last time you drank water? Pause reading for a moment and have a sip. I don't really have to say this because I think we all know how vital water is for our bodies. However, it's crazy how many of us neglect drinking enough water to stay hydrated and keep our bodies functioning properly. Never underestimate the value of drinking water, and don't forget to remind yourself and those around you to stay hydrated.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Being grateful

Lastly, I want to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. I can be pessimistic sometimes, and during those times, I anchor myself in the blessings I've received and in what went right, no matter how small it may be. It's easy to get lost in negativity, but I know that when we learn to step back and appreciate the simple things that make our day—be it our job or the mere fact that we are alive and moving—things are bound to get better.

Now, moving on to the outs for 2026.

(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ 👎Arguments

Arguments can be healthy if they’re handled properly. Sometimes they’re necessary so we can communicate our frustrations, but they should always end in a constructive and respectful way. What I want out of this year are explosive and unhealthy arguments, because I don’t think those do any good. It’s damaging for both sides of those who are arguing. People who are fighting with someone tend to have a negative outlook and often have trouble sleeping. We don’t want that. I don’t like seeing people arguing and don’t want to get involved in arguments. To be honest, I don’t like being angry. I still get angry—it’s a normal emotion—but I keep in mind to try not to dwell on it and do my best to brush it off and focus on other things instead.

(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ 👎Occult practices

This includes anything related to New Age practices, Wicca, and similar things. I’m not particularly comfortable with them, and I don’t believe these are godly, so they are definitely out for me this year. I did read some astrology stuff before and have tried tarot reading for fun, but now that I know these things are against God, I’d rather pray and do something else that pleases our Creator.

(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ 👎Extravagance

We need to practice frugality and learn how to maximize our income—whether we’re earning six digits or five. Building good savings is important, especially for rainy days. Here in Cebu City, we went through a lot last year—typhoons and other challenges—so having a stable savings account really matters.

(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ 👎Too much sugar

Once again, all of this comes back to our health, because health truly is everything. Let’s try to be more mindful and intentional with the choices we make. I no longer put sugar in my coffee or drink soda. I’m also trying my best to eat fewer sweets and carbs, because those two turn into sugar, and having too much sugar in our bodies can make us sick. Actually, anything too much is not good, but you know what I mean. lol

(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ 👎Unhealthy Connections 

Last thing on my outs this year is unhealthy connections, which include toxic relationships. I think that at some point, when something brings us more chaos than peace, we have to let it go. Not because we hold grudges, but because it’s our responsibility to keep ourselves sane. I want to let go of anything that brings more confusion than clarity, and anything that breaks my boundaries. I want to make an effort to become a better person, and I know that one way for me to achieve this is to build genuine connections with others, be it with friends or with potential lovers. It’s true what they say—if it costs your peace, it ain’t worth it. In this pragmatic world, I know that deep inside all of us, we all crave authentic and loving connections, which are more valuable than gold. I’d rather be alone or be with a few real ones than be with someone unsure or just up for games.

That’s it for now for my ins and outs of this year. I want this year to be intentional and grounded with purpose. We all have one life, and our lives are all precious. Also, I’ll try my best to keep blogging here. I write for a living now, and it’s kind of challenging sometimes to find time to write outside of work, but this is good. I love blogging. I love connecting with myself and with others. I’d love to hear your thoughts too. I know you can’t leave comments here since I’ve turned off the comment section. I just got too tired of filtering out scams. lol But you can always email me and stay connected with me via Instagram, where I’m very much active.

love lots, 

Tin