Reclaiming 2026: Why Choosing Yourself Isn’t Selfish — It’s Responsible

Every conversation I’ve had lately has the same undertone: Everyone is out of capacity.

Change is relentless. Expectations are rising. And most of us are overriding our own nervous systems every single day… for what? And to what end?

So here’s my take:

**2026 needs to be the year we get a little more selfish.

Because somewhere along the way, caring for everyone else became more important than caring for ourselves. And now we’re paying for it — with burnout, resentment, exhaustion, and a sense of being chronically behind. It doesn’t have to stay that way.

Reclaim 2026 as your own.

Delegate where and when you can.
Set boundaries and actually hold them.
Get clear on what supports you, because that’s what ultimately matters.

Our lives are demanding more than ever. Reclaiming your energy, your time, and your peace isn’t selfish… it’s responsible.

A Client Who Hit Capacity — And What Happened Next

This whole reflection came from a recent conversation with a client who has absolutely no capacity left. As her fractional HR partner, I’m walking beside her as she rewrites how she leads:

• Delegating sooner

• Speaking up earlier

• Being okay with whatever comes from choosing herself

It’s daily work. And honestly? In my view, it’s the kind of work society desperately needs more of.

And to give you a sense of who she is: when she was promoted to Executive Director, the very first thing she did was seek out a therapist — because she refused to bring her “sh*t” into the workplace and put it on her team.

That is awareness.
That is vulnerability.
And that is leadership in action.

She’s a role model to her team because she takes responsibility for her wellbeing rather than outsourcing the consequences of ignoring it.

When we’re better, the people around us are better. Our kids are better. Our teams are better. Our communities are better.

Our Nervous Systems Can’t Keep Up

We’ve normalized a pace that our bodies can’t keep up with. And maybe — just maybe — 2026 is the year we stop pretending they can.

This morning, I snapped a quick “selfie-warning” photo:
post-workout, no makeup, 100% real.
Just me choosing myself before anything else today.

Because if leaders don’t model reclaiming their own capacity, who will?

What About You?

Are you feeling this too?
Are you noticing the strain, the speed, the self-sacrifice that’s become our default?

I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts — whether you lead a team, run a business, or simply feel like the world is asking too much.

Maybe 2026 really is the year we rewrite the script…