Every January, we perform the same ritual.Thinking We promise to lose weight, learn Spanish, read more books, journal daily, be kinder to ourselves. By February (or often even earlier!), we’re back to our old patterns, quietly ashamed that we’ve failed again. The problem isn’t our willpower; it’s that we’re asking the wrong questions.

Resolutions focus on outcomes: What do I want to achieve? But outcomes are downstream from thinking. If you want different results in 2026, you need different thought patterns. Not 26 things to do, but 26 ways to think.

This isn’t a listicle of productivity hacks or wellness tips. It’s a collection of provocations designed to disrupt your autopilot thinking across five domains: Innovation, Digital, Education, Authenticity, and Strategy (IDEAS). Some will resonate immediately. Others will irritate you. Good. The ideas that make you uncomfortable are probably the ones you need most.

These aren’t New Year’s resolutions. They’re intellectual tools for navigating a year that will undoubtedly throw curveballs we can’t predict.

Innovation Thinking

1. Stop Innovating, Start Integrating

Innovation has become a performance. Companies launch “innovation labs” that produce nothing. Schools create “innovation roles” that change little. The obsession with novelty blinds us to integration, making existing good ideas work together better. As I explored in my piece on digital transformation, authentic change often comes from integrating what you already have, not chasing what’s shiny. This year, ask: What if the breakthrough isn’t a new idea but better connections between old ones?

2. Seek Constraint, Not Freedom

We think innovation requires unlimited resources and boundless freedom. Wrong. Research by Patricia Stokes shows that constraints force creative problem-solving in ways that freedom rarely does. T.S. Eliot wrote his most innovative poetry within strict formal constraints. The NUS developed some of its most effective interventions under severe budget limitations. Ask yourself: What limitation could I embrace that would force me to think differently?

3. Kill Your Best Idea

You’ve got a pet project, haven’t you? That brilliant initiative you’re convinced will transform everything. But your attachment to it might be preventing better solutions from emerging. Philosopher Karl Popper argued that progress comes from falsification – actively trying to prove our theories wrong. This year, identify your most cherished idea and genuinely try to kill it. If it survives your assassination attempt, it’s probably worth keeping. If it doesn’t, you’ve just made space for something better.

4. Learn from Adjacent Failures

We study success stories obsessively. But as mathematician Abraham Wald demonstrated during WWII, we often draw the wrong conclusions from survivors. Wald famously analysed bullet holes in returning aircraft and recommended armour where there weren’t holes because planes hit there didn’t return. This year, don’t just study successful innovations in your field. Study failures in adjacent fields. What can education learn from retail’s failed digital transformations? What can healthcare learn from manufacturing’s automation mistakes?

5. Practise Strategic Incompetence

You’re good at certain things. Perhaps too good. Your competence keeps you doing the same work while preventing you from developing new capabilities. The Japanese concept of shoshin (beginner’s mind) suggests that expertise can be a prison. This year, deliberately choose something you’ll be rubbish at. Take that pottery class. Learn that vibe coding app. Join that debate society. The discomfort of incompetence is where innovation lives. As I learned from my daughters’ fearless approaches to trampolining, swimming, dance, climbing, aerial arts (look it up!), genuine growth requires the willingness to fling yourself backwards without knowing if you’ll stick the landing.

So why would these business titans be willing to share all these “inside ideas” with a public audience?

They are donating their time to help our charity, Village Impact. For the last 16 years, we have been building and resourcing schools in rural communities throughout Kenya.

Our Mission? To deliver quality public education and equip students in poverty and conflict-affected communities with the knowledge and skills they need to provide for themselves, their families and their community—for the long term.

Productivity Resolutions That Matter in 2026

Trends that actually move the needle next year focus on leverage, not hustle. Consider adopting one or two of these modern practices:

• AI‑assisted planning and scheduling: Use AI to draft weekly plans, estimate task durations, and propose focus blocks. Pair with Timing to validate effort vs. outcome.
• Mental health and intentional rest: Schedule recovery blocks, no‑meeting mornings, or one protected evening for deep rest to prevent burnout.
• Micro‑goals (quarterly/monthly): Set compact targets you can reassess every 30–90 days to keep momentum and adapt to change.
• Habit sustainability and tracking: Track work patterns automatically to reinforce routines and spot time sinks early.

Tips for Staying on Track with Your 2026 Resolutions

• Start Small and Be Specific: Break larger goals into smaller, manageable steps. Instead of “be more productive,” try “spend 30 minutes each morning planning the day.” Specificity makes goals less intimidating and more achievable.
• Create a Timeline with Milestones: Establish time-bound check-ins (weekly, monthly, or quarterly) to measure progress and stay motivated. Smaller milestones give you clear markers of achievement and keep momentum high.
• Track Your Time and Activities: Use tools like Timing to monitor how you’re spending your time. Tracking reveals patterns, highlights inefficiencies, and helps you adjust your approach as needed.
• Build Your 2026 Resolutions into Daily Routines: Incorporate goals into your existing habits. For example, schedule a daily block for focused work or dedicate specific times for self-care.
• Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: Setbacks are inevitable, but they’re not failures. Celebrate progress, no matter how small, and use challenges as opportunities to refine your approach.
• Seek Support and Accountability: Share your resolutions with a trusted friend, join a group, or use accountability apps to stay committed.
• Celebrate Milestones: Reward yourself for small victories along the way. Whether it’s a treat or a day off, celebrating progress boosts motivation and keeps you inspired.

Powerful Thinking Habits to Achieve Your Goals in 2026

Every year ends the same way. We look back, notice what went wrong, and promise ourselves that next year will be different. We set goals with good intentions, yet many of them fade by February. The new year should feel like a clean slate, but it often feels like a repeat. The problem is not our goals, but the old thinking approach. 2026 is just around the corner. This is a chance to let go of old mental habits and try these 7 new ways of thinking that actually work.

Start With Curiosity, Not Certainty

Progress begins with curiosity. Many breakthroughs happened because someone paused and asked a simple question. Isaac Newton did not ignore the apple falling from a tree. He wondered why it fell and what force caused it. That moment of curiosity led to ideas that reshaped how people understand the world.

You can use the same approach in everyday life. When something goes wrong at work, do not rush to blame or defend. Pause. Ask why it happened. Consider what it can teach you. Think about how else you could see it. Curiosity keeps your mind open and turns problems into lessons.

Go Deeper, Not Wider

Thinking differently does not mean chasing every new idea. It means slowing down and understanding the real problem. When you dig deeper, solutions become clearer.

Imagine a team that keeps missing deadlines. It is easy to blame time management. A deeper look might reveal unclear priorities or poor communication. Once you understand the real issue, you can fix it instead of patching symptoms. Depth creates clarity. Clarity leads to better action.

Change Your Inputs to Change Your Thinking

Your thinking reflects what you feed it. If your days look the same, your ideas often do too. Small changes can shift your perspective.

Read a book outside your usual interests. Sit in on a meeting from another department. Try a hobby that feels unfamiliar. A designer can learn from an engineer. A manager can learn from an artist. New inputs shake loose old patterns and spark fresh ideas. Write down what surprises you. Those small insights often lead to meaningful change.

Change Your Inputs to Change Your Thinking

Your thinking reflects what you feed it. If your days look the same, your ideas often do too. Small changes can shift your perspective.

Read a book outside your usual interests. Sit in on a meeting from another department. Try a hobby that feels unfamiliar. A designer can learn from an engineer. A manager can learn from an artist. New inputs shake loose old patterns and spark fresh ideas. Write down what surprises you. Those small insights often lead to meaningful change.

Expand Your Network, Expand Your Ideas

Good ideas grow through conversation. When you talk only to people who think like you, your thinking stays narrow. When you listen to different voices, your mind stretches.

Some of the best solutions come from unexpected places. A problem that feels stuck inside one team can look simple to someone outside it. Talk to people in different roles. Ask how they approach challenges. Listen without planning your reply. New perspectives challenge assumptions and open doors you did not see before.