It’s entirely arbitrary — just ask all the cultures that kick off a new year in entirely different months — but there’s something about January that convinces us we can change our lives.
In the lead up to Jan. 1, Pinterest abounds in inspirational, keyword-heavy lists, like “101 New Year’s Goal Ideas To Be Your Best Self in 2026.” TikTok explodes with tutorials for building a “2026 Vision Board,” a multi-day, multi-part exercise that involves both deep soul-searching and hours of tinkering on Canva.
If that’s one too many apps for you, consider the self-improvement trend “junk journaling”: A low-fi, low-cost way to mindfulness and gratitude by scrapbooking memorabilia that represents your life in its present form, like show tickets, a flower from your best friend’s wedding, a Post-it note from your lover. Collating and surveying the fragments of the moment is said to leave you feeling present and grounded, a true luxury in our chaotic era.
If your biggest intention for 2026 is to take less advice from the internet and more from real people who aren’t trying to sell you an e-course, we’ve called on inspirational Torontonians to walk us through how they go about setting goals — and actually achieve them.
Jennifer Whalen, actor and co-creator of “Small Achievable Goals”
Baroness Von Sketch alum Jennifer Whalen is the co-creator and co-star of the hit comedy “Small Achievable Goals,” returning for its second season of menopause-skewering hilarity this January. And she really does believe in setting small, achievable goals — now. “I used to set myself crazily ambitious goals and then I was hard on myself when I didn’t achieve them,” she said. “Now, rather than setting goals for ‘What-I-Should-Be-Doing-With-My-Life,’ I think more about what will make my life more enjoyable.”
That translates into a compassionate and gentle approach to goal-setting. “Be kind to yourself. Keep your goals simple. Be flexible,” she said. “Things change, you change.”
What’s a goal that you’ve set and actually achieved?
“When I was 30, I set myself the goal of creating a TV show. The first show I created was an animated series about the Bronte Sisters with Gavin Crawford and John Webster. We sold it to Disney. It was an incredible experience. We made a pilot; also an incredible experience. When the pilot didn’t get picked up, I was completely and utterly heartbroken. Not an incredible experience. I learned then not to tie my sense of self-worth to my job or to whether or not I achieve a goal.
Life is weird. Sometimes you don’t achieve the goal you set out to achieve, or you do eventually achieve it but not in the way that you thought you would. It took me another 10-ish years of near misses, shows almost getting made, before Baroness Von Sketch Show and now Small Achievable Goals. Which taught me the other great lesson: If you are enjoying what you do, don’t give up. Keep trying, keep learning.”
How do you set goals that are actually achievable?
“OK, so a goal like, ‘I will write the most genius novel of all time: everyone who was mean to me in high school will read it and regret all their life choices; it will solve the climate crisis, achieve world peace and make Amy Poehler want to be my friend’ is perhaps setting yourself up to fail. That was definitely the type of goal I used to set for myself.
Now I’m more flexible. My goal might be to write two hundred words a day. They don’t have to be good, they just have to be on paper. If I do that consistently for a year and have fun with it, maybe it will become something that I could turn into a book. And then maybe me and Amy P will be besties? Worth a try!”
Cheyenne Catchpole, content creator
Cheyenne Catchpole, who won plenty of hearts as a former Toronto Raptors dancer, has won even more by sharing her life and love of fitness, travel and her adorable dog with her community on social media. She has a momentous 2026 coming up, as she’s planning her wedding with fiancée Erica Hill.
“I’m big into speaking things into existence and moving like it’s already yours. Whether it’s putting my desires into my journal, or on a vision board, or just saying them aloud, putting them into the universe is always step one,” said Catchpole. “Self-confidence, compassion and positive self-talk is key for me.”
What are some practical tips for effective goal-setting?
“I actually have a specific ‘goals journal’ that I fill out in the spring with all of my goals for the year. I’m big into intentionality, so having a dedicated place for all my goals and ambitions really helps declutter my mind. It’s also such an incredible way for me to reflect and really give myself my flowers for how much I’ve achieved. It’s so easy to get caught up on the next goal, and the next goal, but it’s equally as important to slow down and be proud of what you’ve already accomplished.”
What daily habits bring you closer to achieving your goals?
“This might come as a surprise, but rest. We often forget about the need to slow down and recover when talking about goal setting, but rest truly is fundamental. It gives me the space to think, and ensures I’m moving in alignment with what I truly want, not what people want of me. My favourite ways to rest are spending time in nature, restorative practices like yoga and meditation, and screen-free time. I’ve been really into colouring lately. It’s been such a nice creative reset.”
If you have something big coming up — say, a wedding — how do you make sure that milestone happens the way you want it to?
“I’ve been trying to let go of the idea that things have to go exactly how I want them to. I’m very much a perfectionist and like to be in control of the details, but I’m learning very quickly that sometimes you need to ease up and have faith. For big milestones and moments, I like to focus on the bigger picture and nail down exactly what’s important to me. Not the little details, but the larger moments and feelings. Those are what really matter.”
Amil Niazi, author of “Life After Ambition”
A razor-sharp chronicler of the zeitgeist, Toronto writer Amil Niazi’s work has gone viral several times, most memorably her essay titled “Losing My Ambition” for The Cut. Now, she’s published a memoir about navigating midlife’s shifting sands, called “Life After Ambition.”
Unsurprisingly, Niazi’s approach to goal setting has also shifted with time. “My goals now are focused on things like trying to be a more empathetic parent, more patient and forgiving of myself and the people around me. They are about how I move through the world,” she said. “After years of chasing a certain kind of success, I’ve learned that if you’re focused on always attaining more, there will never be enough.”
Sometimes it feels like setting goals just sets us up to fail. How do you set goals that are actually achievable?
“Build on what you’re already doing. If you’re not a runner, don’t put ‘run a marathon’ on your list. But if you love to walk, try and set a goal for yourself to change up your route, discover new places, go a little farther every month. New year, same you!”
Is there a goal that you’ve set every year that still eludes you?
“No, I don’t aim for the impossible.”
What’s a goal you’ve set and actually achieved?
“Five years ago, when I quit my job at the BBC, I told my friends that I would write a book about leaving that kind of ambition behind — and here I am.”
What are you aiming for in 2026?
“I would love to start work on another book, and I would like to stop looking at my phone. Hopefully, both are achievable!”
Vicky Milner, president and co-founder of Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards
Every year, the CAFA Awards spotlight the great and the good in Canada’s fashion industry. Dynamo Toronto entrepreneur and philanthropist Vicky Milner is a driving force behind this highlight in the style set’s calendar — this year’s gala will take place in Montreal on April 26.
Milner is a person who gets things done, although she feels one major achievement remains out of reach: “A personal goal of mine is using time in the most efficient way possible,” she said. “Sometimes it works and other times the day escapes me and I still have so much to do. This is an ever-evolving skill and practice for me.”
Do you have a general goal-setting philosophy?
“I always like to ask first, ‘Why do I want these goals? What is the intention and purpose behind them?’ I think it’s important to understand the why before you think about the how and the when.”
Do you have a ritual or method for deciding what you’d like to achieve in the next year?
“I like to write down what I want to achieve personally versus work goals in two columns. I then try to prioritize what I can achieve short term versus long term. It helps me to bucket them and to create more step-by-step goals, as opposed to looking at everything at once, which can feel overwhelming.”
What’s a goal that you’ve set, and actually achieved?
“I have always wanted to set myself up with some type of morning ritual. In the past, I usually would have gotten up and started working right away, or running errands and looking at all of the tasks on my long list. I have prioritized taking 10 to 15 minutes every morning, no matter what is going on, for myself to start the day. It’s a short time but it gives me a practice to set myself up for the day rather than getting stressed and jumping into everything the minute I open my eyes.”
