--- title: Re-Entry description: Start 2026 with intention. Reflect on what energized and drained you last year to guide your goal-setting process. Presence over perfection for a steady re-entry. image: https://thrivetolead.com/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Jan%205%2c%202026%2c%2002_16_40%20PM.png --- [![ThriveToLead logo transparent](https://thrivetolead.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ThriveToLead%20logo%20transparent.png?width=400&height=169&name=ThriveToLead%20logo%20transparent.png)](https://thrivetolead.com) ![header-bar](https://www.fthemes.net/hubfs/header-bar.svg) ![close-bar](https://www.fthemes.net/hubfs/close-bar.svg) - [Home](https://thrivetolead.com) - Coaching Show submenu for Coaching - [Executive Coaching](https://thrivetolead.com/executive-coach) - [Assessments](https://thrivetolead.com/coaching-assessments) - [Teams](https://thrivetolead.com/team-coaching) - [Workshops](https://thrivetolead.com/workshops) - Resources Show submenu for Resources - [About Kristen](https://thrivetolead.com/about-kristen-schmitt) - [Testimonials](https://thrivetolead.com/client-testimonials) - [Contact](https://thrivetolead.com/contact) - [Blog](https://thrivetolead.com/blog) - [Home](https://thrivetolead.com) - Coaching Show submenu for Coaching - [Executive Coaching](https://thrivetolead.com/executive-coach) - [Assessments](https://thrivetolead.com/coaching-assessments) - [Teams](https://thrivetolead.com/team-coaching) - [Workshops](https://thrivetolead.com/workshops) - Resources Show submenu for Resources - [About Kristen](https://thrivetolead.com/about-kristen-schmitt) - [Testimonials](https://thrivetolead.com/client-testimonials) - [Contact](https://thrivetolead.com/contact) - [Blog](https://thrivetolead.com/blog) [development](https://thrivetolead.com/blog/tag/development) [Self-Care](https://thrivetolead.com/blog/tag/self-care) # Re-Entry [![](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/f0688954449454cfa33b0803dce8fe0d)](https://thrivetolead.com/blog/author/kristen-schmitt) [Kristen Schmitt](https://thrivetolead.com/blog/author/kristen-schmitt) Jan 5, 2026 2:20:42 PM ![](https://thrivetolead.com/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Jan%205%2c%202026%2c%2002_16_40%20PM.png)   ![-mm2BrT-g5uLbEUY8Suy_](https://thrivetolead.com/hs-fs/hubfs/-mm2BrT-g5uLbEUY8Suy_.png?width=352&height=469&name=-mm2BrT-g5uLbEUY8Suy_.png) Yesterday was Sunday. The anxiety hit. About re-entry. It, not so gently, nudged me to work. Not in a deep-work way. *More like doing the work to get ready to do the work when the week actually begins.* Reviewing notes. Responding to emails. Letting my nervous system catch up to my calendar. If you felt a similar pull this weekend, you’re not behind. You’re orienting. If you’re staring at your screen not knowing where to start, or you jumped into Monday, January 5 with back-to-back meetings, pause. Take a breath. If you haven’t done any goal setting for 2026 yet, let me say this plainly: That’s okay. January creates urgency before clarity. You don’t have to let it crush you. *Consider making a one-hour date with yourself in the next week.* During that hour, instead of jumping straight to goals, start here: • What energized you last year? • What quietly drained you? • What do you want less of before you decide what deserves more space? • What must be clarified now so you stop forcing decisions later? These aren’t productivity questions. They’re grounding questions. January doesn’t require a perfect plan. It asks for presence and a willingness to begin. Here’s to a steady re-entry and a year built with intention. Happy 2026! ###### Popular Post - [Ownership v. 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