With the start of a new year, people often take the time to reflect on the year behind them: what they loved and enjoyed, as well as what wasn’t so enjoyable and won’t be carried into the year ahead. I am a strong believer that one of the most effective ways to think about personal goals for the new year is by identifying your “ins” and “outs” for 2026. An “in” can be a habit, practice, or physical item you want to adopt or continue in the coming year, while an “out” is something you want to leave behind in order to better yourself and your life.
For me, the majority of my “ins” and “outs” are reflective of my goals physically, mentally, and spiritually. You often hear the typical phrase, “I want to work out more in the new year!” For me, one of my physical “ins” is being more intentional about moving my body every day, no matter how or when. This could look like attending Solidcore, a Pilates-inspired strength training workout I love, doing some form of cardio at the gym, or simply going for a walk and braving the cold to get some fresh air. Approaching movement this way makes it more accessible and less daunting than a rigorous New Year’s resolution.
Mentally, one of my biggest “ins” has been prioritizing reading and leaving my phone in the kitchen before going to bed every night (even weekends!). This habit has helped lower my anxiety and reduce my overall screen time. In contrast, my “out” is excessive, unnecessary screen time and doomscrolling for hours when I really should be getting a good night’s rest.
Spiritually, my main “in” has been engaging with scripture each day, whether through Bible study or listening to one of my favorite podcast networks, the Bible Project. My spiritual “out” is worrying excessively about things I cannot control, trusting instead that I am protected and being looked out for.
As I reflected on my own “ins” and “outs,” I began to wonder about the KO community and how fellow students think about their personal goals in this way, what they hope to bring into 2026, and what they are ready to leave behind. Sophomores Delilah Mathews and Isabela Tippner reflected on a shared “out” they will be leaving behind as it will help them to accomplish their goals this academic year, procrastination. “An ‘out’ would be my habit of procrastination,” Delilah said, “and it relates to my ‘in’ because it will help me go to bed earlier, get adequate sleep, and stay more organized.” Isabela also expressed similar goals.“I’m a really bad procrastinator, and I feel like I can lower my stress through planning how I’m spending my time in advance,” she said. “I also think I will be able to produce work to the best of my ability by doing so.”
Senior Samaria Gonzalez had a unique perspective on her personal “ins” and “outs.” “As I prepare to leave for college in a few months, one of my ‘ins’ is being very intentional about spending quality time with loved ones,” she said. “College will be a new experience, and while it is exciting, I won’t get the luxury of seeing my parents, my sister, teammates, and best friends every day.”
On the academic side, senior football and basketball player DJ Biggins spoke to habits he will adopt to better himself on and off the field and court. “Doing my homework the night it’s assigned will be a crucial ‘in’ for me,” DJ said. “Not only will it keep me organized and on task, but by getting it out of the way, I’ll get to dedicate the time I need to on my workouts and training to prepare for college football.”
2026 is already off to a strong start, and by reflecting on our “ins” and “outs,” we as students are able to be more intentional about how we move forward in all realms of our lives. Whether big or small, these choices are crucial in shaping our year ahead, and the KO community has the opportunity to support one another in each of our endeavors.
