New Yr’s Resolutions 2026: Much less Optimizing, Extra Dwelling

By many goal measures, 2025 was a superb 12 months. Funding returns have been strong. I printed one other bestseller in Millionaire Milestones. My children are wholesome, pleased, and persevering with to develop in loving environments. On paper, I ought to really feel happy.

However the actuality is completely different.

The draw back of writing persistently, responding to tons of of questions, managing the family finances and rental properties, and spending an infinite period of time with my children is that there isn’t a lot time left over for me. Since 2009, I’ve been waking up at round 5 AM to write down earlier than work, and since 2017, to write down earlier than the household wakes as much as spend extra time with them.

And I’d prefer to lastly let off the gasoline.

2026 can be my final full 12 months in my 40s. Possibly this can be a midlife reckoning. However I am not as motivated as I as soon as was. I’m grinding an excessive amount of and really feel underneath appreciated. That disconnect has been weighing on me because it’s grown wider over time.

My expectations and energy have been too excessive for 2025. In consequence, disappointment adopted. So as an alternative of pushing tougher in 2026, my aim is to simplify, loosen up extra, do much less, and decrease expectations for myself and for others. This fashion, life can be extra balanced and the family can be extra harmonious.

Altering From a FIRE Life-style to a Common Life-style

As a result of I’m burned out, my aim for 2026 is to return to common. I in all probability ought to intention for beneath common, however that seems like too dramatic a swing. Common will do for now.

To assist me higher perceive what “common” really appears like, I’ve been slowly surveying different dads on how a lot they work, play, relaxation, spend, and care for his or her youngsters. My aim is to behave extra like them.

FIRE Can Mess Up Your Perspective

The factor about dwelling the FIRE way of life since leaving work in 2012 is that it will probably make you myopic. You lose sight of the so known as actual world and the way most individuals really dwell.

When you find yourself continually making an attempt to optimize your money and time, you cease doing issues purely for enjoyment. As a substitute of splurging on a trip or a automobile, you consider saving for a 529 plan or maximizing retirement contributions. Having fun with your wealth be damned.

You additionally cease doing issues when everybody else does them. You keep away from ready in line for lunch at midday. Driving throughout rush hour appears loopy. Over time, this mindset could make you inflexible about what to do, when to do it, and what’s not price doing in any respect.

Additional, when you’ve got each time and money in your fingers, you possibly can fall into the tough mindset of “when you can, you have to.” When you not have excuses like a piece assembly, there’s no purpose to not work out, decide up the youngsters, go grocery buying, or write the following nice American novel. And when you don’t do these issues, the default assumption turns into that you simply’re merely being lazy.

Fortunately, having youngsters who attend college has helped give me extra perspective from different dad and mom and nudged me towards a more healthy and extra balanced way of life. For a very long time, the FIRE approach was the first lens by way of which I operated. Now I’m realizing that it’s time to loosen up and rejoin the traditional stream of life a bit extra.

Listed here are the eight adjustments I plan to make.

1) Spend 50% Much less Time On Childcare

After 8.5 years, I’m shifting away from my identity as a stay at home dad. I promised to be a keep at residence dad for the primary 5 years of every kid’s life, and that mission is completed. Now I plan to cut back the common quantity of awake time I spend with my children to about three hours a day, down from roughly seven.

Earlier than anybody freaks out, the common faculty educated father spends about 80 minutes a day with his children. At 180 minutes, I’ll nonetheless be nicely above common.

By my very own calculations, I’ve already spent the equal of about 50 years of common dad time with my 8.5-year-old son and 42 years with my 6-year-old daughter. So by the point they go away the home at age 18, I’ll have spent over 100 years with each of them, even at my lowered charge. For these older parents out there who regret having kids late, know that you could make up for misplaced time.

I’ve entrance loaded my parenting and am glad that I did. However I additionally must reclaim some private time if I wish to keep current and sane for the long term. If you do not have children, simply know that your free-time will go to zero if you take care of them, and aren’t cautious about making time for your self.

2) Journey Solo Extra With out Guilt

I have been away from my household a complete of solely 11 days in eight years and 9 months. And all 11 of these days have been to see my dad and mom to verify they’re OK (finish of 2020 throughout pandemic) and liked (dad’s eightieth birthday in Nov 2025). I might love to do extra journey touring alone.

To determine an acceptable variety of days I can solo journey with out feeling unhealthy, I surveyed six different dads about how a lot they traveled for work previously 12 months. Their solutions have been 155 days, 68 days, 60 days, 45 days, 27 days, and 18 days. All are nonetheless married, which suggests their wives are in all probability okay with it. Three of the six wives had full-time jobs and in addition traveled for work.

On condition that I’m the first monetary supplier who has enabled my spouse to be free since 2015 by helping her negotiate a severance package, my conclusion is that I ought to be capable of travel at least 44 days a year guilt free. 44 days is the common of the 5 dads I do know after throwing out the outlier who traveled for 155 days. If I wish to take child steps to normalcy, I minimize that in half and nonetheless get 22 days of solo journey with out disapproval.

The place To Go

This journey will embrace media and finance conferences in Asia, tennis tournaments on my bucket listing, plus solo adventuring to new international locations. Given I grew up abroad and lived in six international locations earlier than 14, I lengthy to style that nomadic way of life as soon as extra. Certainly one of my regrets was not being a digital nomad earlier than having youngsters. However since I by no means obtained fired in the course of the international monetary disaster, I soldiered on till I left in 2012.

It is going to be robust to be away from my household. However I will unfold the 22 – 44 days out into two to 4 journeys. I am vastly impressed by all of the dads on the market who spend weeks and generally months away from their households yearly with out guilt. The households appear to work simply fantastic and hearts would possibly even develop fonder being away as nicely.

3) Publish Much less Incessantly And Write Shorter Posts

In 2026, I plan to cut back my publishing schedule from 4 occasions every week to a few on common.

As a substitute of Monday, Wednesday, Friday posts plus a newsletter, I’ll intention for Monday and Thursday posts and a Saturday e-newsletter targeted extra on investing and actual time ideas. This fashion, I can higher release my weekends for household time, poker, and sports activities as an alternative of spending a Friday or Saturday night writing my e-newsletter. Every little thing will stay free, so to not fear.

I’ll begin by implementing this new publishing schedule throughout each vacation week, starting with MLK week on January 19. From there, I’ll roll it out over Spring Break, Summer time Break, Fall Break, and Winter Break. One factor I’ve realized since changing into a guardian is simply how a lot day without work youngsters really get every year. In consequence, having kids doesn’t crimp an ideal FIRE lifestyle practically as a lot as you would possibly assume.

I’m additionally going to write down extra 1,000 – 1,200 phrase posts as an alternative of 1,500 phrase plus posts. The aim is to get to the purpose extra shortly and higher seize the eye of a inhabitants with declining consideration spans.

With the rise of AI, you additionally merely don’t want me as a lot anymore. Reducing my output by about 25 p.c ought to release significant private time. Sustaining such a inflexible schedule since July 2009 has created pointless stress generally, particularly on the weekends. I’m pleased with the consistency, however I don’t must show something anymore.

4) End My Third E-book With Portfolio Penguin

By giving myself permission to publish much less on Monetary Samurai, I can redirect that point towards ending the primary draft of my third guide with Portfolio Penguin. The working title is Your Kids Will Be OK: A Sensible Information to Elevating Resilient, Succesful Children in an Unsure World.

The subject aligns completely with the place my focus is as we speak, making certain our youngsters are taken care of and might efficiently launch into maturity in an more and more aggressive world.

A guardian’s fear is rarely really carried out, so the aim of this guide is to assist put that fear to relaxation and really feel extra assured about our youngsters’s futures. I’ll share the varied methods to assist present the way you and your youngsters can be okay.

5) Keep Unemployed For One Extra Yr

I’ve determined to view remaining jobless whereas caring for a spouse and two youngsters in San Francisco as a enjoyable private problem. I’ll hit 9 years in April 2026, and my aim is to make it to no less than ten.

Having no regular revenue forces me to give attention to higher managing our cash in order that it does not run out. An absence of retirement or healthcare advantages additionally helps me higher sit with uncertainty. The longer I dwell with uncertainty, the extra snug I really feel when unfavorable occasions happen.

That mentioned, I nonetheless have this urge to hunt a job at an AI-related startup once more. I’m already investing as much as I can in private AI companies to assist hedge for my youngsters’s future. So why not see if I can go all-in? I’ll be in San Francisco for no less than 3.5 years and each youngsters are in class full-time.

I attempted on the finish of 2023 and ended up consulting part time with a fintech startup for 4 months. It was an excellent expertise and taught me quite a bit about startup life and what it takes to compete efficiently. With two years extra time to deal with household, publish my guide, and rethink, I am open to strive once more if the right match comes alongside.

I assign solely a 5% chance that I’ll discover the precise match and obtain a proposal that I might be prepared to simply accept. In any case, my aim is to remain unemployed for yet another 12 months. However there’s nonetheless an opportunity.

6) Simplify My Rental Property Life

Apart from household, the 2 largest sources of stress (and pleasure) in my life have been Monetary Samurai and proudly owning bodily actual property. Monetary Samurai is enjoyable to function, so the stress there may be minimal and can be lowered with much less weekend writing of the newsletter. Managing rental properties, nevertheless, is my least favourite exercise and reliably sours my temper every time one thing comes up.

I used to be relieved to promote one rental property in 2025, receiving a preemptive offer. However I nonetheless personal three leases in San Francisco and one in Lake Tahoe. My aim now’s to maintain my tenants pleased so I can finally promote one other property as early as 2027, and no later than 2029 if we’re to relocate to Honolulu.

Actual property was an impressive wealth builder for me throughout my first 20 years out of school. At this stage, I’m much less excited about maximizing returns and extra excited about minimizing upkeep points, tenant drama, and lightening my psychological load. I am hopeful 2026 can be a tame 12 months for property administration given I secured two new tenants in 2H 2025.

7) Spend Much less Time Managing Our Funds And Not Lose Cash

In 2026, my aim is to not lose the beneficial properties I’ve made for the reason that starting of 2023. I plan to cut back particular person inventory publicity, enhance index fund possession, prohibit new investments except markets are down no less than 3%, and construct money. I’m carried out making an attempt to outperform the S&P 500. I am additionally going to park extra free money stream in Treasury bonds if the 10-year bond yield stays about 4.2%.

There may be actual worth in outsourcing to a money manager if you wish to release time, cut back stress, or just haven’t any understanding or curiosity in investing. The issue with me is that I earned an MBA, labored in finance for 13 years, am a private finance fanatic, and can’t carry myself to outsource any monetary administration since I can do it nicely myself.

2025 was notably aggravating as a result of I bought a rental property and reinvested a lot of the proceeds in March, proper earlier than markets took a dive. Mixed with nonstop coverage noise and better stakes investing, I discovered myself exhausted by all of it. Then I used to be additionally managing a relative’s seven-figure portfolio for free, which added to my stress.

If I can earn the risk-free charge plus one or two p.c for my total taxable portfolio, I’ll be extraordinarily happy after three years in a row of 20% beneficial properties. It really seems like fairness traders have gained the lottery submit COVID.

As well as, I’m going to mentally earmark $80,000 for non-productive spending and accidents. By doing so, any future automobile problem, residence restore, or different unlucky shock will already be accounted for. Simply as importantly, this cushion offers me specific permission to spend on issues I take pleasure in with out guilt, as an alternative of defaulting to saving and investing each additional greenback for my youngsters.

8) Be taught To Really feel Comfy Being Much less Appreciated Than I’d Like

Certainly one of my largest private weaknesses is a powerful need to really feel appreciated. This weak spot seemingly stems from once I was a baby and was continually informed I wasn’t ok once I misplaced a tennis match or did poorly on an examination. After I work arduous and that effort goes unacknowledged, I really feel deflated, and over time, resentment quietly builds.

Actually, this tendency was one of many causes I in the end left my finance profession. Regardless of robust efficiency, I felt underappreciated by way of slower promotions and compensation that didn’t mirror my contribution. As a substitute of staying annoyed, I selected a distinct path: I negotiated a severance, walked away, and constructed Monetary Samurai so my effort and outcomes can be straight linked.

But when my aim for 2026 is to return nearer to common, I want to simply accept a tough fact that most individuals finally study at work: no one will ever care about your output as a lot as you do. Anticipating constant recognition is a recipe for disappointment, not motivation. I must study to simply suck it up and never anticipate a “thanks” or a “job nicely carried out.”

I additionally must acknowledge hedonic adaptation. If you present a steady and cozy life for lengthy sufficient, folks naturally get used to it. What as soon as felt extraordinary turns into regular. That is human nature, not malice, and blaming others for getting used to the great life solely deepens pointless resentment.

Associated: The Source Of All Stress In Life: Giving A Giant Crap

The Significance Of Intrinsic Motivation

On the identical time, I’m reasonable about who I’m. I’m not wired to all of the sudden cease caring about recognition altogether. So as an alternative of making an attempt to alter my character instantly, I want to alter my expectations and my output.

By deliberately doing much less, I decrease the emotional price of feeling missed. Much less output means fewer unstated expectations. Fewer expectations imply much less resentment. And fewer resentment creates extra peace.

Finally, that is about shifting from extrinsic validation to intrinsic motivation. I must remind myself that I write, make investments, construct, and supply as a result of it’s significant to me, not as a result of I want acknowledgment. If appreciation comes, nice. If it doesn’t, that needs to be okay too.

Studying to be at peace with being much less appreciated could also be one of the vital abilities I develop in 2026.

A Sabbatical For A Extra Harmonious 2026

These eight adjustments are all designed to cut back stress, reclaim time, and assist me dwell higher. I liken it to being a professor on sabbatical.

As a substitute of battling AI within the publishing world by writing extra, I’ll invest in more AI companies disrupting the area. As a substitute of forcing creativity on a inflexible schedule, I’ll give myself room to benefit from the course of once more. And as an alternative of making an attempt to financially present and be a full-time guardian, I’ll go the extra conventional route.

Every decision can be difficult as a result of outdated habits die arduous. However they’re mandatory to forestall me from burning out and strolling away from every little thing fully.

I’ll proceed to eat nicely, train day by day, and take naps every time doable. That half isn’t negotiable. The extra time I reclaim for myself, the extra current I may be for everybody else.

Readers, what are your resolutions for 2026? Have you ever discovered any efficient methods to quiet the will for recognition and easily really feel at peace together with your effort? For those who’re a working guardian, I’d like to learn the way you stability profession ambitions, journey, and household time with out burning out. And when you’ve ever gone from being a relentless grinder to taking a sabbatical or significant break, how did you adapt to the slower tempo and recalibrate your sense of goal?

Begin The Yr Off Proper With A Free Monetary Checkup

One software I’ve leaned on since leaving my day job in 2012 is Empower’s free financial dashboard. It stays a core a part of my routine for monitoring internet price, funding efficiency, and money stream.

My favourite characteristic is the portfolio price analyzer. Years in the past it uncovered that I used to be paying about $1,200 a 12 months in hidden funding charges. This cash is now compounding for my future as an alternative of another person’s.

For those who haven’t reviewed your investments within the final 6–12 months, now’s the right time. You possibly can run a DIY checkup or get a complimentary financial review through Empower. Both approach, you’ll seemingly uncover helpful insights about your allocation, danger publicity, and investing habits that may result in stronger long-term outcomes.

Keep proactive. A bit optimization as we speak can create far larger monetary freedom tomorrow.

Empower is a long-time affiliate associate of Monetary Samurai. I’ve used their free instruments since 2012 to assist observe my funds. Click on here to study extra.