The first quarter of 2026 has come and gone, and I am currently ankle deep into April, dipping my toes into the second quarter. As you know, dear reader, I created a 26 for 2026 list with aims and activities that I want to explore this year. Even though I have been super busy these past three months, I have not made much progress with completing items on my 26 for 2026 list which disappoints me. I was hoping this year would be better, and in some ways, it has been better; however, I am still struggling with keeping up with everything I have going on in my life. Before I share my thoughts on where I missed the boat and how I think I can course correct, let me share what I did accomplish in January, February, and March.
Out of the 26 items on my list, I have started 11 aims or activities and have completed one activity. That one activity I completed was #22 Vincent van Gogh Conqueror Challenge which is a virtual, fitness challenge where I walked 56.1 miles (tracing van Gogh’s path from Arles to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in France). I started the journey on Sunday, 01 March and completed it on Monday, 30 March (Vincent van Gogh’s birthday). This walking challenge was enjoyable and a highlight of my first quarter of the year. I earned a medal upon completion, and it will be mailed to me at some point this year.
11 Items Started
- Alphabet Adventures (books, movies, outings, restaurants, etc.)
- Dermatology Appointment
- Finances 101 (create budget/track book spending)
- Home Library (complete organization)
- Kat’s Novel Adventures (film/release 26 videos in 2026)
- Lunch Dates with Friends (6 in 2026)
- Scrapbook Sessions (scrapbook 26 times in 2026)
- The X-Files: Season 1 Rewatch with Barry
- Unhaul Books (donations, giveaways, and Pango)
- Writing Sessions (write 26 blog posts in 2026)
- Zero to Well-Read Podcast
I am keeping track of the books I am reading, the movies I am watching, the songs I am listening to, and the restaurants where I am dining for my Alphabet Adventures. I went on 2/26 outings in March (Little Shop of Horrors at the Columbia Theatre and a Tea at Southeastern University Library). My Dermatology Appointment is scheduled for May 8th.
As for Finances 101, I have only kept track of my book spending. I spent a total of $435.23 on 48 books for myself/channel. I spent $139.56 on 28 books for gifts and $43.06 on books for my son Andrew. I want to keep track of how much money I am saving by using my libraries. I started keeping a list of the audiobooks, ebooks, and books I have checked out of the library since the beginning of the year, but I have not calculated how much I have saved, yet. I should also keep track of the books I have received as gifts as well as the free books I have received through Scholastic and volunteering at the FOTL store.
My Home Library is still a work in progress. I have added more books on bookshelves, bought an additional bookcase that needs to be assembled, and bought a few baskets to fill with books and put on top of the bookshelves. I also need to purchase additional shelving from Lowe’s to add more shelf space to the bookshelves in my office.
I have filmed/released 5/26 videos (4-January/1-March) on my YouTube channel, Kat’s Novel Adventures. I have had 2/6 Lunch Dates with Friends. Kelsi and I had lunch together at La Madeleine in January to celebrate our birthdays. Michelle and I had lunch together at Spudly’s Super Spuds in March. As for Scrapbook Sessions, I had 4/26 at a retreat I attended in February with my friends, Donna and Heather. Barry and I have watched 1/24 episodes of The X-Files: Season 1.
I have made a few donations (Mom’s books) and given away a book (Dark Sisters) as a giveaway on my channel for Unhaul Books; however, I am making a stack of books for future giveaways as well as a stack to sell on Pango. I really need to go through Shelly’s books and the rest of my mom’s books and make some decisions. As for my Writing Sessions, I wrote 3/26 blog posts (3-January). I listened to one episode of Zero to Well-Read Podcast (The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald), and I really enjoyed it, so I will continue listening to this podcast.
Writing all of this out to share with you, dear reader, has made me realize that I have accomplished more on my 26 for 2026 list than what I am giving myself credit for, especially considering all of the other things that have kept me busy since the new year started. In addition to my 26 items, I participated in some other projects. Some of these projects have been completed and some of them are ongoing until the end of the year. I am doing wonderful with the #Move26in26 Challenge. I move at least 26 minutes every day through working out with BODI and walking daily. I am on track with my Goodreads Challenge. I have read 27/100 books (January-March). However, I am extremely behind in my book reviews. I completed Frugal February and saved some moolah.
As for YouTube, I am hosting my weekly Wednesday and Saturday sprints. I am also keeping up with buddy reads and book clubs. I hosted Nevermore in January, Folklore February in February, and cohosted the Mardi Gras Readathon in January/February. I also participated in the Laura Ingalls Wilder Readathon and the BookTube Besties Retreat in February. In March, I participated in Week of Weird: Round 7 along with Middle Grade March and March Mystery Madness.
I spent a good chunk of my time on my YouTube channel’s reading events and participating in reading events run by my booktube buddies. I REALLY need to reflect on my YouTube journey, its overall impact on my life, and how it influences my goal-setting in the future. I want to create a balance between my channel and other areas of my life. I think I need to make a realistic plan to designate aims/activities per quarter. That is where I missed the boat in the first quarter.
Therefore, to get back on track, every week when I plan on Friday, I should be looking at my 26 for 2026 list, so I can work on some of my aims. I know I am busy with YouTube projects (January-May), and I realize that I might not start some of the aims/activities on my list until June: however, there are aims on my list I can work on a little bit at a time. I can choose one aim, like decluttering my scrapbook room, and chip away at it a little bit each week until the aim is complete. No multitasking! At the end of the day, it is about priorities. If I want to complete these aims, I have to make an effort to schedule them into my planner. I think time tracking is needed now to help me get a more accurate picture of where my time is being spent. In the meantime, I have included a video about my 1st Quarter Progress Report below if you are interested in hearing more of my thoughts about my first quarter progress.
Well, dear reader, here is the good news. It is still early enough in the year for me to course correct and get back on track, so I can end the year successfully. Knowing that has renewed my excitement. This upcoming Monday, I will start time tracking, so the following week I can choose one of my aims to incorporate in my schedule to work on to completion. Let me know in the comments if you, dear reader, set any goals, aims, or projects for yourself this year and how you are doing with them. Happiness!
“A few moments of inner peace and quiet allows the brain to reset itself. You become more centered as this happens, since the brain is clearing out distractions and too much “cross talk.” ~ Deepak Chopra
The Kat Files 