My planner reminded me that we’re in week 45 of 2026, which blew my mind. I can notice all the Christmas decorations and discussions around the end of the year, but remain blissfully ignorant that 2027 is fast approaching, right?
I didn’t think so.
If you’re new to my blog (hello NaBloPoMo folks), every year I write a list of 52 things to do in 52 weeks, creatively called my 52-in-52 list. There’s not a rule that says I have to get them all done, the point is to just have some cool stuff to do during the year. I’ve only ever finished the list once that I can recall, so for 2026 I decided I wanted to try and achieve them all for a second time.
As of my last update, there were 17 left on the list. I’ve since posted about the goal to reinstate date night, and we’re still going strong on that.
So with the end of the year fast approaching, let’s see how things are looking now.
Completed
Go on a boat
I feel like this goes without saying, right? I’ve been on a really, really, really big boat. A cruise ship, in fact, and I’m recapping all the days from our holidays. You can catch up on these holidays starting from Day 1.
Visit somewhere new
Another one I get to tick courtesy of our recent holidays away. My pick for this one was Moturiki Island, because I love all things water. How can you not love this view?
Make an effort to stay in touch with friends more
I finally feel comfortable ticking this one off. At the start of the year, I felt a little like I was too absorbed in the things that I had going on, and not checking in with my friends enough.
This year I’ve definitely made more of an effort:
- Spontaneous texts to friends asking how they’re going and checking in.
- Picking dates in the future to have a better chance for us all to be free.
- When catching up, nominating someone in the group to pick the next date, so that we keep the ball rolling.
- Organising “weekends away” in 2027. I’m super excited to spend time with some of my favourite people, because finding a date we’re all free at the same time can be near impossible.
I know they say that when you have kids that your friendship groups change, and it becomes harder to keep in touch. That’s definitely true. But I’m so grateful for adding this one to my list, and for the friendships that I have in my life.
Compliment a stranger
Last week, when my friend and I went to see the author Jon Ronson in Brisbane, I took the opportunity to complete this 52.
The woman who showed us to our seats had this incredible hairstyle, like an angled bob cut, and her hair was a brilliant silver. Before we parted, I quickly said “super random, but I really love your hair!” The look on her face was priceless, in a positive way. She seemed very flattered and taken aback, and thanked me with a giant smile.
This is why I added this one to the list. I wanted to add a bit of positivity and appreciation, especially when current world events seem to bring out the worst in people. Here’s a challenge for everyone playing along at home – throw a random compliment to someone today and see how it goes down.
In Progress
Here’s a quick update on the ones that I have in progress and likely to get done before the end of the year:
- Make my America video (a holiday video from 2024)
- Earn an iFit badge every month (100% completion rate to date, and two months left to go)
- Do Pilates regularly using my board
- Grow the damage out of my nails
- Do something badly/embrace imperfection (I’ve given myself a task to do this week for the America video that is going to allow me to tick this one off, it’s a huge personal challenge)
- Start the Alphabet travel challenge (just need to take some photos and prepare to blog it)
- Schedule a regular catch-up with friends (I’m annoyed by myself for putting this one in actually, since it seems so close to the one I’ve already completed).
- Design Australian Christmas cards (cutout style)
Not yet started
These are the ones that are at risk of not getting completed. Some of these are pretty small though, so I think I’ll knock them out pretty quickly.
- Learn the drums
- Complete more items in my adventure book
- Learn how to use nail tips
- Decorate cookies with royal icing
Status
So where does that put me now? 12 items remaining before the end of the year.
To be honest, the only one I’m worried about completing is learning the drums. Even if I get started now, I don’t think I’ve left enough time to say that I’ve learned them. I wrote this without a benchmark of what that means. To be able to play a single song?
My rule is that I’m not allowed to sign up for drum lessons until I finish my America video. That’s mainly because I’m paying a monthly subscription for the video-editing tool, and once I cancel that, I’ll sign up for drum lessons. I’ll also be shifting over to using a free video-editing tool so that I can still keep making videos in the future without it being expensive.
It’s going to be an interesting finish to the year!
Have you got any goals left for the year that you still want to achieve? Or have you decided your goals now sound like a 2027 opportunity?
Learning the drums does seem like quite an ambitious goal to accomplish in two months! Maybe learn a drumbeat or something like that might be more reasonable?
Oooh that’s true! Just the first key milestone in the lessons perhaps? Something that says yep I’m learning this, so I’ve progressed past the stage of just someone who sits down and starts banging them (aka my son lol).
When I read learn the drums, I was thinking that’s ambitious, but I’m sure you can make a start, then you might be able to make more concrete goal in 2027. You’re going really well in getting these all done. i’m lucky that my list is for longer than the year.
I love that idea. I think I wrote this one too vague and open-ended for sure, lesson learned!
I think the key for me this week was doing my weekly planning, and making sure I was making progress on something
I LOVE a good list and 52 in 52 is pretty bad ass. I am doing 101 in 1001 but that is not as many goals compared. I am in awe. The drum thing is a tough one though. But signing up for classes might be a check in my book.
Yesss, lists are the best!! I love the idea of the 101 in 1001 too, and the number symmetry makes my heart sing. I just found them on your blog, so time to settle in and read everything on your list!
My husband is a drummer put hasn’t played with a group in ages. When we were first dating he taught me how to play a few songs — it’s tough!
You could knock out the royal icing on some Christmas cookies. 😉
Ooo you’re getting so close! I think maybe learning one song would be appropriate for “learning the drums”. And now I want to go think of my goals for 2027…. lol!
Hi. I’m visiting from NaBloPoMo. Your list sounds ambitious to me – and so much fun. I am looking forward to getting a new 2027 daytimer, one that had the week on one side and a lined page on the other where I write down something new I learned each day (it could even be something I knew, but had forgotten about). I read alot, so it shouldn’t be that hard, should it?!! I need discipline 😉
I am not a goal setter, but I find it fascinating to read about other people’s goals and your list is fantastic!
I didn’t have any particular goals for this year, but I have been doing better with keeping in touch with friends as well: it’s hard to find time to get together but if you make an effort and make an effort to text, it’s so worth it, isn’t it? And I’m new to your blog, but I love cruises, so I’m going to look at that stuff now.
I love the idea of 52 things to check off every year!
I wonder if you could say signing up for a drum class counts as completing it? And then maybe on your 2027 list (if you make one), you could set a benchmark like learning a song? I’m ALL about revising goals, ha!