10 on the 10th; January 2026

 Yay! Marsha's brought her 10 on the 10th back and I loved this month's prompt! Some months she asks us 10 questions and some month she just gives us a prompt. Both are fun to answer.   


Oh I just knew this prompt was going to be so easy! Without listing crazy things I'd never do, I actually have had quite a few goals and things to do on my mind for years that I keep pushing off and pushing off because I really don't want to do them so here are 10 things I probably won't do this year (that I really probably should). Most relate to our house which is now 22 years old...

1. Repaint the baseboards/trim & doors (or any room of the house at that)-- our white trim and doors are really showing their age and use but the thought of actually getting down and repainting them is daunting so it's a task I keep putting off.


2. Remodeling the master bath (or any other room in the house for that matter)-- my husband and I have talked about a master bath remodel for years and we have done a few mini makeovers but really it could use a huge overhaul. I'd like to get rid of the makeup table and put in double sinks, we'd get rid of the jetted tub I haven't used since my boys were little and put in a giant walk in tiled shower... things like that. 

3. Move! I'd love to sell our house and move south but since just me and the younger two want to do this (and they'll be off at college so their votes don't even count) I can't see us moving any time in the near future. 

4. Travel overseas-- I have so many sights and countries on my list of places to visit but I highly doubt I'll be leaving the states at all this year. In fact I'm pretty sure travel of all kinds will be kept to a minimum. We have one trip planned to Utah and I hope to get Evan down to North Carolina to see my family but other than that I think all other trips will be close to home in & around New England.  


 5. Get a job-- with Evan graduating and heading off to college in the fall I am officially finished homeschooling so of course lots of friends and family members have asked what I plan to do next and many assume I'll be getting a job... but I doubt it. I'm not opposed to working if the right job comes along but I'm definitely not polishing my resume and researching job opportunities either. 

6. Decluttering/ deep cleaning ALL the cabinets and closets-- When the boys were little without fail every single January was a time to go through every single cabinet, closet, and drawer and deep clean and declutter. But as they've aged I've gotten away from that and while I keep thinking I SHOULD do that this year I probably wont.

7. Make it Mat Yoga-- I attend a chair yoga class at my gym and the teacher is always modifying the exercises to make them more challenging for me. Both her and the owner of the gym keep trying to encourage me to go to mat yoga (which I would LOVE)... but it's from 6-7 at night and I am just not at all motivated to work out in the evening. I am a morning exercise person. 


8. Reside the house-- Our siding takes a beating from the relentless sun, wind, and weather coming off the lake and is all buckled on one side. We have a few cracked pieces of siding here and there too so I've been pushing for a residing job for a few years now but it's such a big job that it's one we keep putting off. I assume we'll tackle it when it's time to redo the shingles. I'm hoping it can wait a couple of years until at least one of the college bills is done. 

9. Volunteer-- Since I've made it pretty well known I'm probably not going to get a job a few people have mentioned I could volunteer... but I don't see myself doing that either. In case you haven't noticed I'm not much of a people person (and I can not imagine working at an animal shelter--- ewww!) so I don't see this happening in 2026 either. 

10. Reaching my WW Goal weight-- That might sound so defeatist but I only reached my WW goal weight (that they set up/recommend) once and that was when I was in so much pain for a full year that I hardly ever ate anything. I have my own more realistic goal that I am just 4 pounds shy of hitting that I think is much more doable. 

 Linking up with:



Comments

  1. Kim CarberryJanuary 10, 2026 at 8:04 AM

    Ahh! I have a list of things that I should do but probably won't in 2026 and you have given me ideas to add even more to my list like paint the baseboards and doors. My eldest will be finished her education in June and I am not 100% sure about getting a job either, if the right one comes along I will take it but I'm not going out looking for one. I am not a people person either. hehehe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne January 10, 2026 at 3:23 PM

      Ha! Glad I gave you some more ideas to add to your list you won't get around to doing.

      Delete
  2. Kim January 10, 2026 at 9:25 AM

    Oh I love this prompt. How fun and I love a little honest realism. I have a lot of those same things on my list...and I do chair yoga for the same reason. Once 5pm comes around I'm in my pjs, especially in winter!! Great share!

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    Replies
    1. Joanne January 10, 2026 at 3:23 PM

      Aw, thank you! Yes! I told them I'm in my pj's by 5 so I just can't possibly come to class at 6.

      Delete
  3. Jenn LloydJanuary 10, 2026 at 9:42 AM

    This made me laugh! I'm going to write my own post now. I can't wait to see you again this year...how fortunate are we to have this IRL friendship now?!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amy JohnsonJanuary 10, 2026 at 9:43 AM

    What a fun prompt. I always have winter goals, and complete some of them but never as many as I hope. And hey, if you don't need to work, don't. Just because your kids are grown, doesn't mean you need to go back to work.

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    Replies
    1. Joanne January 10, 2026 at 3:24 PM

      Aw, thank you! I definitely don't feel like I need to go to work and thankfully my husband doesn't either.

      Delete
  5. GinaJanuary 10, 2026 at 9:50 AM

    I like this prompt, too, and may borrow it! I think its great to be realistic, since at this time of year, we set our expectations and don't consider our limitations. Sure, there are things we should do, but we also have to conserve our energies for what we truly want to do! I don't really want to work, either, but it gives me structure that would otherwise be lacking in life. I should probably acquire a few hobbies, ha ha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne January 10, 2026 at 3:26 PM

      Definitely! I don't make resolutions usually because I found I rarely had the follow through.

      Delete
  6. The Happy WhiskJanuary 10, 2026 at 11:04 AM

    This if a funny thing and I love it. Ten things we won't do this year. hahaha. Love that. Happy Weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  7. EllibelleJanuary 10, 2026 at 11:13 AM

    Great prompt and you reminded me that I really need to organize/declutter my cabinets and closets! I always make a good start but sadly never get through everything. Somehow this year I haven't even thought about it yet!
    I quit my job several years ago to be more available to my kids, my oldest graduated from highschool in 2024. Thought about going back to work but honestly I feel like there is plenty to do around the house, garden work, etc. that I don't have the urge to go back. It's a personal decision for sure.

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    Replies
    1. Joanne January 10, 2026 at 3:28 PM

      There is always something that needs doing around the house!

      Delete
  8. Maria RineerJanuary 10, 2026 at 12:20 PM

    We have talked and talked and gotten quotes and quotes about redoing our master bath. How extensive (gut job or not) and then how expensive (gut job or not!) are two things we are having trouble coming to a decision about so we´ve done nothing about it beyond talk. Our homes are similarly aged. We repainted all of our baseboards a few years ago and honestly they could use a touch up but I don´t see us doing that in the near future! We talk about moving but I think it will definitely depend on where the kids end up living. I love working very much part time on my own schedule! I don´t consider myself much of a people person either but I have found a few staff members at one school whom I really like and do enjoy the interaction with when I´m there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne January 10, 2026 at 3:29 PM

      Knowing my husband.. we'd probably tackle most of the remodel ourselves.. which makes it even less appealing since that means working nights and weekends and taking even longer. I am the painter and while I know the house would look great retouched I just can't motivate myself to do it. My husband wants nothing at all to do with moving and swears he will die in this house (I, however, hope to change his mind!).

      Delete
  9. Lux G.January 10, 2026 at 4:22 PM

    I love this! And it makes me think about my 10 answers to this question. Hmmm....

    ReplyDelete
  10. MarilynJanuary 10, 2026 at 5:54 PM

    I have been part of a bathroom remodel removing a tub and replacing it with a shower. This is a great, fun list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne January 11, 2026 at 7:30 AM

      Oh ours is going to be much bigger than that; we also want to replace flooring and put in radiant heat, add double sinks, etc. It would be a total gut job...

      Delete
  11. CatJanuary 10, 2026 at 7:07 PM

    Looks like you had not as much of a problem with the prompt as I did! Great list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne January 11, 2026 at 7:31 AM

      Aw, thank you! I only struggled a bit to come up with the last 3.

      Delete
  12. AnonymousJanuary 10, 2026 at 11:43 PM

    I can't wait to hear about your trip to Utah!! Ruth@playworkeatrepeat

    ReplyDelete
  13. Laura @ Our Grand LivesJanuary 11, 2026 at 6:23 AM

    What a fun and thought filled list! I found myself nodding in agreement with many of the things on it After 30+ years in our house though, we are finally remodeling two bathrooms this winter and it's a bit overwhelming right now as we make all the decisions. Exciting but a bit stressful!

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    Replies
    1. Joanne January 11, 2026 at 7:32 AM

      Oh yes, I remember that decision fatigue well from when we built our house... so many decisions to make! I hope the remodels go well.

      Delete

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