Tomorrow is February 1st and I’m finally doing all the things I L-O-V-E about the new year – making my vision board, organizing my brand-spankin’-new planner, and setting the big, audacious goals I have for the 334 days ahead. Between recovering from Christmas and my Lolo girl’s birthday, January is filled to the brim with both excitement and stress, so I’ve learned to postpone the “new year, new me” energy until all ^^that^^ *waves hands wildly* is over.
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Last year was a big one for me…good and bad. I opened my own private pelvic health practice (and am still pinching myself almost six months later), up-leveled my homesteading game (we now have 11 chickens and my garden exploded using the @gardenaryco method), and started homeschooling my girl (which I swore I’d never do and now I can’t picture life any other way). I also had my third miscarriage, broke my foot, and juggled my way through the million moving pieces that come with motherhood & marriage & being a multi-passionate person.
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In the first week of January I told my husband, Bob, that this is our year to settle – not the “settle for less” kind, but the “get comfortable” and “rest secure” kind. We now have the firefighter life schedule down pat. My clinic is open and thriving. I finally feel like I have answers and actionable advice to get (& stay…Lord willing) pregnant. Sure, I still have some awesome ideas up my sleeve (#girlcanthelpit), but overall we’re making this a season of being over doing and believing more than dreaming.
Thirty-one days in and a lot has already happened in 2026, personally, professionally, and politically, hence why I’m getting to this annual post wiiiiiiiith only 24 hours to spare. Despite an interesting start (understatement of the century), I think this year has the potential to be a good one, but it’s going to require proactivity, intention, and a whole lotta tuning into my inner knowing. I solemnly swear to put my money where my mouth is to make this a time of thriving instead of surviving, and I’m excited to give you a BTS look at how I plan to do that.
Alllllll the habits & life hacks
Forget lofty resolutions that leave me feeling pressured and ultimately disappointed…ain’t nobody have time for that. It took me a hot minute, but I’ve learned that confident action combined with clarity and consistency is where the life-changing results are hiding. In the past my resolutions looked like flossing every day, trying one new experience a month, and competing in a bikini competition (aaaaaaaand my dentist was happy, I learned to macrame and scuba dive, and I had six-pack abs for a few months of my life).
But rather than check boxes or record progress, my current approach to making the most of a new year looks like habit stacking and life hacking my way through, day by day, week by week, month by month.
Nothing I’m going to share here is IG-worthy, so if you’re looking for fun & fancy & flashy you’re in the wrong place. I’m busy…you’re busy…WE’RE ALL BUSY, so everything you find [here] is realistic and real-life approved (per usual). I’ve learned that minimal & maintainable can be magical, and that’s the same MO I’m bringing into 2026.
SET A WORD OF THE YEAR
I’ve done this for a few years now, and setting a word of the year is a practice I think I’ll keep until my dying day. Starting in November or December, I start thinking about how I want the upcoming year to unfold – who I want to be, how I want to feel, and where I’ll be spending my bandwidth, brainpower, and bank account for the next twelve months. Then I open a new note on my phone and jot down phrases & ideas & quotes until I come up with a word (usually driving in the car or standing in the shower) that embodies my standards and motivation for the year ahead.
This year my word is “whimsy”, primarily based on an Instagram post by @wearespiritiualbeings that hit me straight in the heart and is now printed out on my desk, in my planner, and by my bed. To me this word means romanticizing life and finding joy in every day, believing in miracles and surrendering to God’s plan, laughing at the little things, and consciously creating experiences and cultivating relationships that light me up.
In the same way that a company has a mission statement, personally setting a word of the year gives you a go-to intention as you start each day and a north star to turn to when making a big decision or things feel out of alignment. Because my word this year is “whimsy”, my goal is to witness or work a little wonder into every day and be a woman who exudes that softness…that sparkle that the world needs.
THE “GLAD” PRACTICE
Last year I started a gratitude practice where I documented five things I was grateful for each day that ranged from a freshly opened bag of chips eaten on the drive home from the grocery store to walks along our lake and hearing Sloan sing through the baby monitor. To say this habit changed my life is an understatement…I found myself far more positive, could easily find the silver lining in each day, and would fall asleep most nights with a smile on my face.
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My intention was to take this same habit into 2026, then my cousin told me about the “GLAD” practice that her therapist taught her. Rather than only recording things you’re thankful for, you list (G) something you’re grateful for, (L) something you learned, (A) something you accomplished, and (D) something that brought you delight. As soon as I heard this concept it was out with the old and in with the new, and one month in I’m just as, if not more, thrilled by the benefits of this daily activity.
Some days I’m a business owner and physical therapist, most days I’m 100000% mom, and I try to maintain being everything that is Amanda throughout. The “GLAD” practice forces me (in the most gentle and gracious of ways) to reflect on the best parts of me and my day, no matter what role(s) I’m in, and ensures that I’m always working towards my goals or sometimes establishes that I’m already living my dream life.
UP-LEVEL MY PLANNER SYSTEM
Even though my Google calendar is perfectly color-coded like the good Libra that I am, I also can’t help but keep a paper planner where I track random ideas, the week’s schedule, and big and small to-do’s. While quality paper and an organized checklist are normally all I need, I stumbled across the Cloth & Paper planners (PS – that link will get you a discount code :)) and not only became obsessed, but instantly had a cart full of theeeee most beautiful stationery I’ve ever seen.
No matter how your brain functions, I guarantee they have a calendar system that will work for you (I got this one in a larger size for my weeks and this one in a smaller size to use as a monthly over-view). There are (probably literally) thousands of ways to customize it depending on how you want your system to feel and function, add-ons for habit tracking, financial management, journaling (where I jot down my daily GLAD practice from above), list making, and more, and don’t even get me started on their collection of sticky notes, pens, pouches, and dividers…seriously, *swoon*.
In my opinion, there’s nothing quite like a put-together planner, and the one I’ve created with Cloth & Paper not only looks amazing (I get compliments on it and questions about it every time I pull it out), but has also proven to have everything I need in one place with the ability to easily add or subtract parts and pages as life changes. Is this a bit of a splurge? Um…yes. But I think this is going to be a planner I use for years and years to come.
READ ONE BOOK A MONTH ON A SPECIFIC TOPIC
I accidentally started 2025 unemployed as a result of quitting a new job after one day. I also started 2025 wanting to really learn about and focus on my finances. With a little more time on my hands and eventually a work commute that was over an hour each way, I decided to read (well actually, to listen to) one book a month about money. Beyond checking all 12 book boxes, what I’m most proud of are the lessons I learned, ideas I heard, and the better I (& my bank account) became at all things money along the way.
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They say that “where attention goes, energy flows”, and [this] one book a month practice proved it to be true. 2025 should have been a year of significant financial stress, but I was able to give & save & invest more money than ever before. So this year I’m doing it again, but this time my topic is productivity and time management. There’s a lot I want to accomplish in the next 11 months, and I need all the help I can get to do it with peace and pleasure.
If you’re interested in doing this too, I have a few hot tips. 1) Pick a topic that interests or excites you, that you want to learn more about, and that will get you closer to your year’s goals. Other subjects I was considering reading about this year include marriage, parenting, manifesting, and menopause. 2) Enlist a friend. I did this last year and it was not only nice to have an accountability partner, but I also had someone to help pick out books and to talk about them with. Believe me when I say that [this] life hack is one of the best bangs for your buck you’ll ever embrace.
And the health practices
Whether you’re a patient in my clinic, log on weekly for our virtual pelvic health consults, or are one of my regular(ish) blog readers, you know I teach a simple approach to wellness…because it’s sustainable. But between weekly medical appointments, tracking my menstrual cycle like I’m solving a true-crime murder, and taking more supplements than will fit in an average-sized pill box, what I personally practice wasn’t matching what I preach, and I was starting to feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and defeated.
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One of my goals for 2026 is to become my healthiest self – for the baby I want to bring into this world, for the no-longer-a-baby I’m already blessed to have, and for me – but to bring it back to the basics as much as possible. Do I still love a good biohacking tool? Yuuuuuup! (And I’ll share a few of my favorites here.) Will I do just about anything to naturally get (& stay) pregnant again? Also yes! But the things I’m sharing here are the health practices I’m currently prioritizing in the year ahead.
GET ENOUGH SLEEP
Since starting this blog in 2019, I’ve woken up at 3:30 every morning to create content for this online space before exercising, mom-ing, wife-ing, homesteading, and my 9-5 job. And while I love that quiet time to myself and truly do my best thinking early in the day, years of only sleeping six to seven hours a night was starting to take its toll. Despite doing all the right things the other 18 hours of the day, my energy was low, weight was steadily increasing, and hormones were everywhere.
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After my third miscarriage in September of last year, I decided to place my health above everything else, and a big piece of that puzzle has been my sleep. For me this has looked like installing circadian lights in our home, shutting off screens at least an hour before bed, magnesium glycinate and melatonin at night, Primally Pure’s sleep spray (use code DRDAVIS for 10% off at checkout) on my feet as I crawl into bed, and logging 8-10 hours of shut-eye most nights of the week.
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I fully recognize that sleeping isn’t the funnest way to fill your time. Heck…there are days the doer in me wishes I had put an extra hour (or three) into something other than snoozing. But sleep is essential for physical health, mental performance, and emotional wellbeing – it’s as vital for the body and brain as food and water – and improving the quality and quantity of our rest is likely something we could all benefit from this year.
RED LIGHT THERAPY
Towards the end of last year I treated my clinic…*ahem*…myself to the red light I’ve had my eye on FOR-EV-ER, and have used it just about every day since for one thing or another. Because this red light has both red and near-infrared wavelengths, it can do allllllll the things like support collagen production and skin health, optimize sleep, reduce pain, aid in muscle recovery and tissue healing, decrease inflammation, enhance blood flow, and support cellular energy (to name a few).
We (Sloan included) put the red light over our chest and sinuses when we have a cold. Bob uses it after workouts to ease muscle soreness. I hold it over my thyroid every other night to promote hormone balance, use it on my uterus during menstruation and ovulation, give my face a little glow-up before events or nights out, and at the stomach to help with digestion. In other words, our red light is always charged and ready to go because at least one person is reaching for it on the daily.
Because this red light is portable, versatile, and easy & fast to use (most treatments are only 6-12 minutes), this is a tool I’m committing to using every single day to improve my health from the inside out in 2026. A few months in and the benefits are undeniable, and I can’t wait to see how I feel with even more consistent use.
GOING GLUTEN- & DAIRY-FREE
One of the many tests I’ve done this year in an attempt to get (& stay) pregnant is a food sensitivity test, and my results showed a reaction to gluten, cow’s milk, oats, and apricots. So while ya girl loves raw milk in her morning coffee and homemade sourdough *everything*, I’ll be gluten- and dairy-free for the foreseeable future to reduce inflammation and make my body as healthy and happy as possible.
I was paleo for years in my mid to late 20’s and I followed the autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet right before getting pregnant with Sloan, so I’ve been here before. I’m no stranger to living off meat and sweet potatoes and not a day goes by that I don’t indulge in an almond flour waffle with honey and cinnamon. Rather than count calories or cut fat, I’ve learned to base my diet on eating real, whole foods, so it kills me to cut out the quality dairy and grains that are full of amazing nutrients, but I will do just about anything to get pregnant naturally, even eat my avocado & eggs for breakfast as I butter my daughter’s sourdough toast.
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Two weeks in and my face is less puffy, my joints feel better, and I’ve lost five pounds. Grocery shopping isn’t as fun, eating out is hard, and I’m secretly hoping to have no issues re-introducing these foods to my diet in a few months. So much of this infertility journey feels out of my control, but going gluten- and dairy-free gives me something to follow and a pride in doing what’s best for my body and the baby I’m praying for.
CREATE A “CLEAN” CAPSULE CLOSET
Eleven years ago I was diagnosed with endometriosis. Six years ago I learned that birth control wasn’t actually helping, aaaaaaand I started the journey to holistically manage my pain, have better periods, and improve my likelihood of fertility. A big part of this process was eliminating chemicals from what I put in, on, and around my body, and over the years I’ve overhauled my makeup, hair, skin, & body care, dental hygiene, kitchen tools, and house cleaning products too.
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Last year I took the next step in toxin-free living and shifted to only buying clothes made out of more natural fabrics. Many of the materials we wear nowadays contain polyfluoroalyl substances (PFAS), phthalates, Bisphenol S (BPS), flame retardants, lead, chlorine, and more, and ^^these^^ chemicals sitting on the skin all day can have a lasting effect on our health and hormones.
Because overhauling my entire wardrobe in one fell swoop would be both expensive and overwhelming, I’m in my second year of buying new items when the old wear out or wants come up, and intentionally choosing cleaner fabrics like cotton, wool, linen, hemp, and tencel (and going organic as much as possible). From socks to sweaters, these items are typically a little more expensive and harder to find, but this is a “less is more”, quality over quantity approach to clothing that feels practical, intentional, and like it serves a bigger purpose.
INVEST IN MY HEALTH
The Davis family follows a few rules without exception – no shoes in the house, every meal is packed with protein, and Christmas music is only played after Thanksgiving. We also firmly believe if we’re going to spend our time, money, and energy on anything, it’s our health. From quality food to exercise and anything that will reduce stress or improve sleep, we consider these purchases and practices not only necessary and worthwhile, but an investment in our health.
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In full transparency, this fertility journey has not been cheap. Even without pursuing things like IVF or IUI, we’ve spent thousands upon thousands of dollars on specialist appointments, testing, and supplements. I’m seeing an acupuncturist weekly, naturopath monthly, and I can’t tell you how many hours I spend tracking my cycle, taking a sauna, and researching the latest and greatest of all things holistic health.
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I firmly believe there’s a fine line between being proactive and doing too much…in fact, my naturopath often reminds me that I’m trying to make a baby, not build a car. But fertility aside, I only get one body and I want it to feel as good as possible, work as well as possible, and last as long as possible. It’s not always easy, but I will always prioritize my health with small daily choices, again and again and again.
Bring on 2026, baby!
The quote I already find myself going back to again and again this year is “those who are certain of the outcome can wait, and wait without fear” by Gabby Bernstein. I’m not sure I’m going to have another baby, but I am certain that God’s perfect plan for my life will unfold. So in 2026 you’ll find me getting through my days one “GLAD” practice at a time, slowly filling my capsule closet with clean pieces that I love, learning and implementing all the productivity practices, and taking every measure to maximize my health in the background of it all.
I know this year won’t be perfect – I’ll probably find myself skipping a few nights of red light or grabbing a gluten-filled treat after a long day. But I also know that I’m showing up for this year with intention, whimsy, and a whole lotta faith that everything is unfolding just as it should.
Whether you’re joining me in any of these habits, life hacks, or health practices, orrrrrrr you’re on your own unique journey, please know that I’m right there with you and cheering you on along the way. Here’s to a year of finding joy in every day and becoming the healthiest, happiest versions of ourselves along the way.
– Amanda
Disclaimer: The content provided here does not constitute medical advice, nor is it a substitute for personalized healthcare. I’m a doctor, but I’m not your doctor. If you have concerns about a medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment, you should consult with a licensed healthcare professional.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. No pressure, but I have a feeling you’re gonna like what I’ve taken the time to put my recommendation behind.
