How to Make 2026 the Best Year: 6 Questions to Ask Yourself
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
In this powerful year-end planning episode, Mel Robbins shares a transformative ritual she and her husband have practiced for 22 years to create clarity and intentional growth. (02:42) Through six research-backed questions, Mel guides listeners to look backward at the past year's highs and lows before setting direction for the future. She emphasizes that an amazing year doesn't happen by chance—it happens by choice, and proper planning requires understanding where you're starting from. (07:07) The episode includes Mel's personal reflections on 2024, revealing both struggles with self-care and incredible professional achievements, including launching a new protein company called Pure Genius. (69:59)
- Core themes: Strategic life planning through intentional reflection, the importance of understanding your starting point before setting goals, and using research-backed frameworks to create meaningful change
Speakers
Mel Robbins
Mel Robbins is a bestselling author, motivational speaker, and host of the number one most followed podcast on Apple Podcasts. Her book "The Let Them Theory" has been read by over 8 million people worldwide and became a global phenomenon in 2024. She has developed research-backed frameworks for personal development and recently co-founded Pure Genius, a protein company focused on solving nutrition gaps for busy professionals.
Key Takeaways
Look Backward Before Moving Forward
Mel emphasizes that you cannot create effective directions for where you want to go unless you know where you're starting from. (07:07) Research from UC Irvine and Penn State shows that processing difficult emotions and experiences rather than avoiding them actually frees you from their weight and helps you move forward more effectively. This backward look isn't about dwelling on the past—it's about extracting wisdom and understanding patterns that will inform better decision-making in the future.
Use Your Camera Roll as Data
Rather than relying on memory, Mel suggests using your phone's camera roll to identify the real highs and lows of your year. (06:37) Your photos reveal patterns you might have forgotten—times when you looked energized versus exhausted, moments of connection versus isolation. This visual data helps you make more accurate assessments of what actually happened versus what you think happened, leading to more informed planning for the coming year.
Apply the Stop, Start, Continue Framework
This strategic business framework works powerfully for personal planning. (49:56) Identify what you need to stop doing (habits that drain you), what you want to continue (what's working well), and what you want to start (new directions for growth). Cal Newport's research on productivity shows that real progress comes from subtraction before addition—focusing on what truly matters rather than simply adding more to your plate.
Connect Goals to Intrinsic Meaning
When your goals emerge from personal reflection rather than external pressure, they carry intrinsic motivation that sustains action. (20:14) If you see photos of yourself sitting on the bench instead of participating in family activities, the goal to get healthier becomes deeply personal rather than something you "should" do because experts say so. This personal connection creates the internal fuel needed to actually follow through on changes.
Structure Enables Success
Mel discovered that her best weeks happened when she had simple, repeatable systems in place—like meal prepping her "swamp soup" for the week. (43:50) The key insight is that structure isn't restrictive; it's liberating. When basic systems handle routine decisions (like what to eat), you free up mental energy for more important choices and feel more in control of your daily experience.
Statistics & Facts
- Research from California State University and UCLA found that people who spend even a few minutes connecting the dots between who they've been, who they are now, and who they want to become feel more bonded to their future self and exercise more regularly. (11:02)
- The Mel Robbins Podcast became the number one most followed show on all of Apple Podcasts, with the episode featuring Dr. Stacy Sims becoming the number one most shared episode across all podcasts globally. (33:22)
- Women are falling behind in AI adoption at a rate of approximately 25%, which Mel compares to choosing not to learn email or use cell phones in terms of potential impact on career and personal effectiveness. (58:02)
