As the final days of December 2025 slip away, a familiar ritual begins for many: the annual review. We assess our health, scrutinise our finances, and ponder both personal ambitions and the state of the nation. The transition into a new year can feel overwhelming, prompting a search for guidance on managing change effectively.
Navigating Personal Transitions: From Clutter to Clarity
For professional organiser Laura Olivares, co-founder of Silver Solutions, transitions are a daily reality. She specialises in helping senior adults and their families downsize, declutter, and navigate emotionally charged moves. Olivares emphasises that all change, even positive change, can unearth feelings of grief for what is left behind. Her key advice is to acknowledge these emotions rather than suppress them.
"When you let go of something meaningful, it deserves a moment," Olivares states. This act of recognition, she argues, is crucial for smoothly moving from one life chapter to the next.
When asked by personal trainer Keri Harvey for weekly habits to stay organised, Olivares recommended a "brain dump" of thoughts and goals in December. Before January 1st, she advises scheduling nine small tasks per week (three tasks across three days) to steadily advance your 2026 priorities.
Financial and Physical Planning: Intentionality Over Perfection
In the realm of personal finance, educator Dana Miranda, author of "You Don't Need a Budget," advocates for conscious, individualised money management. She warns against one-size-fits-all rules, which can lead to shame and inertia. "We tend to be not good at talking about the nuances," Miranda notes, highlighting the importance of a system that works for the individual.
Actuary R. Dale Hall, Managing Director of Research at the Society of Actuaries, brings a probabilistic view to new year planning. He stresses the importance of planning while accepting the inherent unpredictability of life. "No one has that perfect crystal ball," Hall remarks, advising a balanced approach that diversifies risks without expecting total control.
On the topic of fitness, a classic resolution graveyard, certified personal trainer Keri Harvey of Form Fitness Brooklyn champions attainable goals. She advises against drastic overhauls, suggesting instead to start with a realistic aim like the gym twice a week and building from there. "It’s not realistic and it’s not kind to ourselves," she says of overly ambitious plans.
Historical Context: Learning from Collective Change
Transitions are not solely personal. Jeanne Theoharis, a professor of political science and history, argues that societies must also confront change by examining history honestly. She uses the example of Rosa Parks, who acted without knowing her arrest would spark the Montgomery bus boycott.
Theoharis sees a powerful lesson here for anyone seeking change today: meaningful action often requires courage without a guaranteed outcome. She connects this to contemporary struggles, such as protecting voting rights, and suggests that a "lack of reckoning with history" hinders true progress for both nations and individuals.
As 2026 draws near, the collective wisdom from these diverse experts points to a common theme: successful transition requires a blend of practical planning, emotional awareness, and the courage to begin, even without a perfect map of the year ahead.
