Happy Holidays from The Quiet Rich, your weekly email to get “rich” in what matters most (like slow mornings, a quiet mind, and a house full of love).
In my opinion, there are too many New Year frameworks out there. Today, you’ll get the only one you actually need. It takes 15 minutes.
CONTEXT
Most people will set their New Year resolutions by thinking about 2026.
But I prefer to set mine with 2025 in mind. Tim Ferriss created a simple “Past Year Review” exercise that I’ve done for the past 6 years. It’s brilliant.
Instead of guessing what might make you happier next year, look at your calendar and camera roll. They are a gold mine for realizing which activities, people, and commitments actually moved the needle on your happiness—and which ones quietly drained you.
Let’s design 2026 around what we know works.
THE METHOD
Step 1: Prep Your Sheet
- Grab a notepad and draw two columns. Label them POSITIVE and NEGATIVE.
- (You could also create this in a blank doc on your laptop so you never lose reflections from past years.)
Step 2: Review the Year
- Starting from January 2025, scroll through your calendar + your photo library.
- Jot down any activities, people, or moments that triggered peak positive or negative emotions. Don't overthink it. Just write down what stands out in each column.
Step 3: Spot the Positive Patterns
- Look at what you wrote down in the POSITIVE column. (There are so many good ones, right?) Which 20% of those things brought you 80% of your joy?
- Maybe the common pattern is you were:
- Traveling somewhere new?
- Bringing your side hustle to life?
- Spending time with a particular friend?
- These are your life's highest-return investments.
Step 4: Spot the Negative Patterns
- Look at what you wrote down in the NEGATIVE column. Which 20% of those things brought 80% of your stress?
- Maybe it was:
- Poor sleep habits?
- Overcommitting at work?
- Saying yes when you meant no?
- These are your energy vampires.
Step 5: Schedule the Good Stuff
- Here's the most important part: Don't just say you'll "do more of what works" in 2026. Actually put it in your calendar right now.
- Book that family vacation
- Block off a weekend every month for your passion project
- Set monthly dinners with your most energizing friend
Step 6: Create a “Not To Do List”
- Write a list of how to avoid those negative patterns, and put it somewhere visible (so you don’t add things to your calendar out of obligation, guilt, FOMO, or other nonsense).
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Removing the negative isn't enough—that just creates a void. The magic happens when you fill your calendar with what actually lights you up.
Here's to designing your best year yet. 🥂
Remember: Your dream life isn’t built overnight. It’s built in all the small choices you’re making now. Good things are coming.
(Thank you to everyone who wrote the kindest things on this LinkedIn post.)
I’m wishing all of you a happy, healthy, and quietly wealthy New Year. ❤️
Jade
P.S. What if building an audience on LinkedIn was your 2026 goal? Imagine having a personal brand that attracts your dream opportunities and clients directly to you. Ben Meer, Colby Kultgen, and I just opened our January cohort of Archimedes—and spots are selling out fast. The program starts January 26th, but don't wait to apply. We're sending out acceptance letters every few days.
Learn more (and read hundreds of member reviews) at JoinArchimedes.com. Ben, Colby, and I can't wait to meet you.
