Kait Mae

It’s about halfway through January 2026 as I’m writing this.

But that’s only because I set the goals in December 2025 and then decided to replace a few goals.

Anyway, I don’t want to yap too long in the intro, so let’s just get into the goal writing.

Goal 1: Write a Book Series

Now, that seems like a big reach for a yearly goal. But I have wanted to write this series since the week after I graduated high school. It’s gone through several iterations, and it’s on its latest iteration.

Around September, I decided I wanted to completely rework it because I kept hitting roadblocks on just planning the last two books. But I’ve gotten deep into worldbuilding and character building.

The last thing I need to do is finish documenting the worldbuilding in a way I understand that isn’t a bunch of sticky notes of random pieces of the story and world. I also want to get a crude map drawn to help me, but I’m mostly done with that.

I’m keeping the title under wraps, but I’ll refer to it as Paladins until the time comes to reveal it in its finished form.

Anyway, I just want to get my Draft 0s and Draft 1s for the entire series so I can find plotholes to fill before doing at least two more drafts.

Publishing is a completely different story that I’m not quite ready to even touch with a six-foot pole.

Goal 2: Attempt to Read 150 Books

Yes, I said attempt. I am trying to take down my physical TBR to make more room on my shelves for books I love.

And to do that, I have to read more. And if I have to DNF a book, I’m perfectly fine with that. I’ve already done it in 2026.

The keyword is attempt because I just want to be able to say I cleared space off and actually tried to read the books on my shelves. I don’t care if I finish and love all 150.

That said, if I manage to read and love 60 books this year, I’ll consider that a double win.

Goal 3: Set Up a Dedicated Creative Space

I am honestly very close to finishing this goal already. I set it higher up in my goal list because I knew it was something I could complete early on and make me very happy.

I have my office in my apartment, mostly set up. I just upgraded my desk and added a second monitor to help with personal projects, as well as work if I have to work from home sometimes.

The rest of the checklist to have what I would deem a “dedicated creative space” is to upgrade a few things, organize, and personalize. I have yet to hang pictures and paintings or finish putting up my camera collection, but I should have those done by summer.

The upgrading part is going to take a bit more time because that’s going to cost money, and I don’t want to splurge all at once. So, the new office chair, webcam, and cable management system are going to wait a bit.

Goal 4: Save $10,000 in Savings

I remember reading several times in several different places over my life that the average adult nowadays has less than $2,000 in their savings. I don’t know if that is fact or fiction, but it feels real to me.

Between rent, bills, groceries, and “fun money,” I am looking for many ways to lower my spending and build up my savings so I can spend my days not really worrying about money.

And in the current economy, it’s not super easy. But my finances have mellowed out since the holidays; I’m spending more wisely, and I’ve even turned down going to AnimeCon because I know I’d be overwhelmed, which would lead to impulse spending.

I’m also looking at side gigs I can do to earn a little more income on the side that will go directly to my savings. So, wish me luck. I’m going to need it.

Goal 5: Fix my Car

Coming straight from finances, here’s something that I also need to save for.

Last June, I was driving the hour-long commute to my job from where I lived at the time. It was pouring rain, and I was already driving slowly, anxious because it was dark and hard to see. Someone passed me going faster, and as I’m watching their headlights fade away in the rain, my car careens sideways.

All I remember was spinning and being unable to move my feet except to pull my foot off the gas. If I’d pressed on the brake, it could’ve been much worse. Instead, all that happened was I hydroplaned into a ditch facing the road I’d just slid off of.

I was sobbing, shaking, and who knows what I looked like other than a frightened, wet 20-something. I managed to make the last 20 minutes to work, but there were a few issues.

One: I had lost one of my hubcaps – the front driver’s side, to be exact. Two: My car was making weird noises. And three: There was dirt and grass lodged into nooks and crannies I never thought about in my car door and front bumper.

To make matters worse, the parking lot I parked in at work flooded. Thankfully, a coworker moved my car for me as I was too scared to get behind the wheel 2 hours after hydroplaning. So, it didn’t get totaled in the flood.

Now that the long story I shortened is out of the way, I do have a few repairs to make. I’ve already got hubcaps in and need to put them on. But I need to find some mechanics who can check the underside of my car. It drives fine, the brakes are fine, but whenever I accelerate, there’s a weird noise. And when I idle, my car gets really loud.

And if you know a Toyota Corolla, they’re not loud cars. So, sometime this year – hopefully before my 28th birthday, I’ll get that fixed.

Goal 6: Start Streaming and YouTube

It’s been a weird dream of mine to start my own YouTube channel for years. I remember being in my junior year of high school and asking for a video camera to do my own little reading vlogs and stuff.

I did get a camera, but I never started filming myself because I didn’t like the way I looked, nor did I want to get bullied more.

Then in college, I started posting to Instagram and TikTok. But I never made the leap to finish editing the long-form videos I’d filmed. So, the dream got pushed back and back until now.

With some friends, I’ve decided I’m going to start streaming now that I am mostly settled into my life, know who I am, and know what I want to do.

Is it going to take time? Yes. Am I expecting to make bank from this? Absolutely not.

This goal isn’t about money or fame or influence. For me, it’s just to have fun and make friends who do the same. And if I find a group of people who like the same things I do, that’s going to be a win for me, no matter what.

Goal 7: Finalize a Secret Project

I can’t say much about this because it’s currently secret, and I don’t want anyone taking my idea.

After working for a YouTuber that I legally can’t divulge details of because of an NDA, I have kept my dreams, goals, and creative ideas to myself because of what happened there. They made me lose trust in people working in that industry.

But I have friends now that I trust. I’ve been talking about creative projects with them a bit more. And while this one is still secret to them, I do want to bring it to life this year.

So, once that’s finalized and ready to take off, I’ll unveil it here and on my social media platforms. But until then, I hope you’ll cheer me on.

Goal 8: Write and Film 2 Short Films

While I’m on the topic of my secret project, here’s another goal I haven’t talked about with others until just this month. I have been wanting to make short films since high school.

Sophomore year of high school, a group of friends and I made a short horror film for a chemistry project. I loved doing it, and I wish I’d done more before now. But, as with YouTube and streaming, I was scared of what people would say and do.

But, I’m 27. I know who I am. I know what I want to create. And I have the means to do so. So, this year, I’m going to write and film two short films.

I have a few scripts, but those are a bit above what I can afford to make now. So, I’ll keep you updated here and on social media as I write, film, and edit them.

Goal 9: Run a Mini TTRPG Campaign

I finally got to play Dungeons and Dragons for the first time last year after I moved closer to my job. I’m playing a high elf monk with trust issues and secrets. And I love the campaign we’re doing so far. Especially our last session, when I threw everyone for a loop by breaking a magical artifact without them knowing the reason.

But what I really want to do this year (in addition to continuing the campaign and doing one-shots or mini campaigns DM’d by my friends) is to run at least one mini campaign.

I have a whole slideshow to help with Session 0 of one already, and I’m starting work on a second for another mini campaign.

I told my friends about it while creating 2026 Goal Bingo with them, and the two that DM were very excited, so I’m even more excited to start it.

Other Smaller Goals

The above nine goals are my major goals for the year. They’re the highest priority for me. However, I do have a few smaller ones that I want to work on, but they’re not as high-priority as the others.

The first of these smaller goals is to catch up with the MCU because I jumped in randomly with Civil War and have stopped watching most of the movies and shows for the most part since Multiverse of Madness. And one of my best friends is a big Marvel fan, so I told him I’d catch up so I could join for Doomsday. (Speaking of that, I’ve managed to avoid most spoilers and trailers so I can go in blind, and I love it.)

Another few smaller goals include watching other non-MCU Marvel movies and shows, as well as DC movies and shows from the past, because I didn’t get to grow up watching a lot of these because they were “boy” shows that I wasn’t interested in until recently.

The last of the “catch up on watching” goals I have is to catch up on Star Wars movies and shows because I have only watched the sequel trilogy, the first two prequel movies, and a couple of episodes of The Mandalorian. Yes, I know I’m very behind, but you can blame the toxic fanbase for that.

Another smaller goal is to finish 10 video games – just the main plotline will be fine for me. Two of those are some I’ve already started: Baldur’s Gate 3 and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.

Last year, I decided I’d try to play through the Assassin’s Creed video games in chronological order because I thought it would be interesting. And I am so glad I did because I love the setting. Say what you will about it, but I’m enjoying it so far.

The last three goals I’ll cover here are catching up on three of my favorite authors’ books. I am a few books behind on Ali Hazelwood because life got crazy for me. Then, Falon Ballard is the next because I’ve been trying to get my hands on her books for months, but they keep selling out where I get my books. And last is Jennifer Lynn Barnes because she re-released an older series and is continuing The Inheritance Games-related novels.

What are some goals you have? Maybe we can cheer each other on, or maybe we can even be accountability partners. Let me know in the comments because I love cheering people on to follow their dreams or complete their goals.