When the decorations came down, the presents were unwrapped, and I was officially off the hook for making the holiday magic happen, I felt low. Maybe it was the ear infection I was powering through, or maybe it was the mental crash after weeks of doing all the things. Either way, the idea of reflecting on the past year and setting goals or resolutions for a brand-new one felt overwhelming. Looking back felt daunting. Mom life has a way of slowly wearing you down, even when you love it. So I decided not to do it. Not to reflect, and not to think about what my goals should be for the upcoming year. Before kids, I loved this part of January. I jumped at the chance to reflect, set goals and attack them with enthusiasm.
Once the ear infection cleared, my mood lifted too, and I finally felt ready to consider what some positive and small intentions for 2026 and this current season of my mom life could look like. I wasn’t looking for anything drastic or multi-layered. No big, lofty goals to optimize every part of my life. Just simple intentions that would actually support my mental health as a mom. Here are a few I landed on.
1. Unfollow Accounts That Don’t Give Me Good Vibes
If an account consistently makes me feel less than or like I’m not measuring up in my career, my parenting, or my home life, it’s gone. I don’t need that energy in my feed. What we consume sticks with us throughout the day, and I want my social media to support me, not quietly drain me.
2. Feel The Mom Guilt, And Do It Anyway
Okay, hear me out on this one. I know it sounds strange. Over the past year, I’ve learned that telling myself I shouldn’t feel guilty for taking 30 minutes to work out on the weekend just doesn’t work. The guilt shows up anyway. So my new strategy is to acknowledge it. I say, I feel guilty taking 30 minutes to work out while my kids are home and I’m going to do it anyway because it’s good for my mental health. And without fail, once the workout starts, the guilt fades. I come back happier, more regulated and genuinely glad I chose to move my body.
3. Ask For Help Before The Meltdown
As moms, we want to be able to do it all. We tell ourselves that if we’re just efficient enough, if we think through every scenario, predict the right snacks, pack the perfect toys, everything will run smoothly. And sometimes it does. But even when we get it “right,” the mental and emotional weight of calculating every possible turn still wears on us. This year, I’m trying to ask for help before I hit that point of overload. Sometimes that looks like asking my partner to grab the snacks. Other times it means scheduling a babysitter, even when it feels indulgent so I can refill my cup before I’m completely empty.
Be Realistic, Perfection Is Not The Goal
When we have little kids, our day-to-day is unpredictable. Case in point: I got up early to write this blog post in peace, coffee in hand and right on cue, I heard a little voice calling, “Moooommm.” Moments later, I had a very cute two-year-old co-author cozy up next to me, picking her nose and proudly handing me her boogies. So here’s the thing – we can chase perfection with our New Year’s resolutions, but real life, especially mom life, rarely cooperates. I know I won’t follow all of these intentions perfectly or consistently, and that’s okay. What matters is having a few small, realistic things to aim for in this season of motherhood, things that support my mental health and help me show up as the mom my two littles need.
Cassidy Vineyard Pflanz
I’m originally from North Platte, NE, and Lincoln has been my home for more than a decade. My husband, Justin, and I have been married for almost ten years. We welcomed our first child, Maxwell, during the pandemic, and our youngest, Zoey, arrived in a much calmer chapter of history.
Justin and I are both small business owners—his in the motorsports industry, and mine as a personal trainer and social media manager. Our flexible schedules have allowed us to prioritize family life. When I have a spare moment, you can find me diving into photography, a good book, a favorite podcast, or the kitchen. Motherhood may not be as glamorous as social media makes it out to be—it’s demanding, exhausting, and often messy—but I can’t wait to share the beautifully messy journey with you!
