It’s frustrating when you’re stuck in the grind, and your work and daily routine pile on so much stress. You feel unhappy with where you are, but you’re not sure how to make a change. You try different things, but no matter how hard you try, the progress feels minimal. Then, when work becomes less stressful for a while, you feel relieved, but you also end up forgetting your long-term goals and just enjoy the moment.
I’m not sure if any of you can relate, but for me, 2025 didn’t end on the best note, especially with having to work overtime on the last day. But now, as I look back on 2025 and forward to 2026—though it’s already the third day of the new year—here’s a look at my reflections and goals for the past year and the year ahead.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Reflections on 2025
First, I’m incredibly grateful for my stable relationship with my girlfriend. While every day may feel like the same routine, something as simple as walking home together is a little romantic moment I cherish. She’s kind and thoughtful, and I’m so thankful for her.
As for my job, I’ve been at the same position for over three and a half years. Honestly, I’m not fully satisfied with where I’m at. There are two main reasons. One, my salary hasn’t really changed much, despite me putting in more years of work.
The second reason is the stress. Specifically, I find myself busy with repetitive tasks and working overtime. Sometimes, even when I’m off, I still have to answer calls to fix problems. And on top of that, I have to be on call a couple of nights a month, which means I can’t go home. Instead, I have to sleep at the office, but it’s tough to get any rest when I’m waiting for calls that could come at any time. Some nights are quiet, but other times, I’m woken up every few hours, and once I’m up, it’s hard to fall back asleep.
Even though I have a Master’s degree in Software Engineering, I’m still uncertain about what I’d do if I were to resign or lose my current job. My girlfriend and I live in the same city—our hometown—but there aren’t many good opportunities for developers or for her career here. It’s a tough reality. Like many people, I sometimes wonder: If I lose my job, will I be able to find something better? This fear doesn’t just apply to job decisions; it affects all major life choices, like relationships or studying abroad.
In terms of my personal life, to be honest, I haven’t developed many hobbies. However, I’m happy that I’ve been consistent with going to the gym this year. While I still can’t see my abs, I’m working toward it. I didn’t get a physical exam this year, but I’m hopeful that all my health metrics are in good shape. I also used the WeChat Reading app to do some reading throughout 2025, but not as much as I would’ve liked.
Another important milestone for me in 2025 was using Cambly to study English with online tutors from around the world. I had 60 minutes each week, usually split into two 30-minute classes. Though I took a break for a few months due to work and test preparations, I feel like I made significant progress. The biggest change for me is that I’ve finally started speaking in English without feeling as self-conscious.
Side Projects: Missed Opportunities
As for side projects—like building websites or apps to make extra income—I regret that I didn’t make as much progress as I had hoped. I knew niche websites could be profitable before ChatGPT became a big deal. In recent years, I’ve seen others make money with SaaS websites. Since I’m a software engineering graduate, I’ve also tried my hand at it, but I haven’t had much success. I always thought I needed to learn coding first, and I spent a lot of time watching YouTube tutorials, but I didn’t apply what I learned enough. This is an area I really need to improve on.
My Goals for 2026
Looking ahead to 2026, I’ve set several important goals for myself:
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Marriage and Family:
I hope to marry my girlfriend this year. I want to build a strong, supportive family, no matter what role I play—as a son, boyfriend, or future husband. Life and family matter just as much as work, and I want to make sure I’m in a good mental space for both.
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Investing in Skills and Community:
I spent over $200 to join Gefei’s community, and I’m hoping it will help me build profitable websites this year. I’m excited to connect with other people in the community and learn from them.
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Fitness and Knowledge:
Fitness will remain a priority, and I also want to focus on learning more about investments this year. It’s something I’ve been meaning to dive into for a while, and I think 2026 is the perfect time to start.
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Consistent Blogging:
I’m committing to writing a blog post every week. This will help me document my thoughts, track my progress, and stay consistent.
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Long-Term Vision:
Every year, people post those “Happy New Year” messages on social media, but sometimes I feel like life doesn’t change as dramatically as we hope. This year, I want to focus on documenting the small wins, setting achievable goals, and tracking my progress day by day. Little by little, I hope to see real change.
Conclusion
2025 wasn’t the year I imagined, but it was still full of learning and growth. As I look forward to 2026, I’m committed to making better decisions and improving both my personal and professional life. Here’s to making steady progress and achieving my goals one step at a time.