From now on, I want to choose a word for every new year. Just something to come back to when things get complicated. This year, it’s focus.
It makes sense because 2026 is going to be really full. We have a fixed schedule with our builder from February to April for the renovation, and if everything goes well, we move into our 1930s house by summer. It’s exciting, but also a bit terrifying.
I’m also properly starting to be active on social media this year. I’m still finding my way with it, and so far I find it quite challenging. There’s so much to learn, so many voices to listen to, and it’s easy to get distracted or pulled in different directions. I need to stay focused on why I’m doing this and what I actually want to say, rather than getting lost in everything else.
With projects this big coming, I know I need to be careful about where my energy goes. Focus on my family during what will probably be quite chaotic. Focus on building Maison Citrose. Focus on not completely losing myself in all of it.
The Vision Board
I made a vision board this year to help me see more clearly what really matters to me in 2026:
Home & Living
Obviously the renovation and the move. But also, finally having a proper garden where we can grow vegetables. Slow and seasonal living is about being more connected to the seasons, and growing our own food feels like the next step.
Style & Creativity
I’m working with a designer friend on vintage-inspired collars this year. It’s a small project, but it’s something creative that’s completely mine and I’m quite excited about it.
Motherhood
Gentle parenting and raising bilingual children remain central to how we live. It’s not always easy, especially when everyone’s tired, but it matters.
Business
This is where I really need to focus. I need proper systems for the website and social media, I want to get better at video editing, and I need to make affiliate marketing actually work. It’s a lot, but it’s also the foundation of what I’m trying to build.
January: Reset & Getting the Basics Right
I had big plans for January. Vision boards, content calendars, starting everything properly. But the girls were a bit unwell over Christmas, and we spent the first few weeks of the year just trying to catch up on sleep.
So instead of starting with everything at once, I’m leaning into the theme I chose for January in my Slow & Seasonal Living Calendar: Reset. It’s about clearing space for calm beginnings, and honestly, that’s exactly what we need right now.
The calendar prompts for January are quite simple:
- Review your home spaces, family routines and personal habits. What works? What could be simplified?
- Reflect on the rhythm you want for your family this year. Not resolutions, but rhythms that support rest and connection.
- Involve your children in a family “refresh day”. Tidy toys, clear cupboards, donate things you don’t love anymore.
I’m not doing all of this perfectly, but it’s helping me focus on the basics:
Sleep, movement, and nutrition. Not in a “new year, new me” way, but more “we need to actually function.” Good bedtimes for everyone, including me. Eating proper meals instead of just grazing all day. Moving my body, even if it’s just walking around the neighbourhood.
Work routines and systems. I’m making templates for things I do often (Instagram captions, email sequences, blog structures). It sounds boring, but hopefully this will save me time later when things get really busy.
The January Could-Do Bucket List
The calendar also has a could-do bucket list for January, and I’ve been picking from it when we have the energy:
- Create a family vision board with simple dreams
- Write down three intentions for your family this year
- Begin a habit tracker for things you want to nurture
- Start a gratitude jar for the year ahead
- Sort through last year’s photos and create an album
- Take a photo of your child in the same spot each season
- Go on a winter walk and let the fresh air clear your mind
- Gather everyone for a slow, playful family yoga session
We’ve managed the winter walk (the snow helped with that), and I’m working on the habit tracker. The rest? We’ll see. Some of it will happen, some won’t. That’s okay.
What Focus Means for Me
For me, focus is about doing what matters and letting the rest go. Accepting that I cannot build a business, renovate a house, raise two small children and stay sane, all at the same intensity at the same time.
Something will need to take a step back at different moments, and that’s fine. The word “focus” is there to remind me to check in: What actually needs my attention right now? What can wait? What doesn’t need to be there at all?
I don’t know exactly how this year will look. The renovation might go smoothly, or it might take longer. The business might grow slowly and might need more time. But I know that if I can stay focused on what really matters (my family, our home, building something meaningful), then whatever happens, it will be okay.