Making lists and checking them twice

How to make your 2026 nice.

‘Tis the list-making season. We set goals and resolutions, and look forward to new starts, fixing old problems, and better luck next year. I like looking backward to see what worked and didn’t work last year and contemplate why before I turn my attention forward and try to commit myself to new things. Based on that experience, here are some ideas you may find useful.

7 life hacks backed by psychology.
5 health tips backed by science.
5 ways to simplify your life.

And BIG, influential stories and trends to watch for in 2026 – by experts.‘Tis the list-making season. We set goals and resolutions, and look forward to new starts, fixing old problems, and better luck next year. I like looking backward to see what worked and didn’t work last year and contemplate why before I turn my attention forward and try to commit myself to new things. Based on that experience, here are some ideas you may find useful.

• 7 life hacks backed by psychology.

• 5 health tips backed by science.

• 5 ways to simplify your life.

• And BIG, influential stories and trends to watch for in 2026.

I would love to know what you are contemplating for 2026. I will be working in a realm I am a little bit uncomfortable in – becoming more of a people person. It may seem strange for those who know me personally because you’ve seen me for years organizing community events and putting people together for various reasons. I present as a people person, but whoever really knows me can tell you that I am actually fiercely independent, self-sufficient, and pretty much living in my own world.

Increasingly, it seems the world needs more and more people’s people. Why do I say that? Because of these fine findings:

• The 1% Rule in cyber culture. It says that “1% of actors create the vast majority of new content.“ The other 90% simply observe, and 9% contribute sparingly. However, that 1% is not always the best and the brightest of us. Another study found that “individuals high in psychopathy and FoMO are consistently more likely to engage in online political activity.” And, “those with both high psychopathy and low cognitive ability are the most actively involved in online political engagement.”
  
  Naturally I had to ask Google’s AI what is President Trump’s Truth Social posting rate, and it said this: “President Trump posts on Truth Social very frequently, often in intense bursts, sometimes hundreds of times in a single day or night, like his record spree of 158-160 posts in a few hours in late 2025, demonstrating a high-volume, sometimes near-constant engagement pattern. His posting frequency varies greatly, from rapid-fire outbursts to periods of less activity, but generally remains prolific, averaging many posts daily or even hourly during peak times.”
  

  Well, now, that’s just awkward.

• More articles are created now by AI than by humans, in something that used to be 100% a human creative activity, and many paid the bills as writers while others aspired to get there someday. Meanwhile, AI has proven to be more persuasive than humans. It apparently knows how to manipulate our emotions better than we do. You’ve probably heard the stories about people becoming convinced of things like inventing a new math, and others, unfortunately, finding validation in their suicide reasoning instead of help to prevent them. My own mom sent me a music video that made her cry, thinking it was real. When I pointed out it’s AI-generated, her response was, “Really? Oh, well. It’s nice though.”

  
  Research indicates that older adults (generally defined as 50+ or 65+) are more susceptible to AI-generated content and misinformation, with studies showing they are significantly less capable of detecting AI-generated text, audio, and images compared to younger demographics. A 2025 study revealed that adults aged 65+ scored 65.5% on AI detection tests, compared to nearly 80% for those aged 18–29, essentially performing only moderately better than a coin flip.

  
  This is one more reason not to argue with your elderly relatives about anything they saw on the interwebs. You are not going to be more convincing than the AI slop they’ve been consuming.

• The Friendship Recession is real and devastating for many. “The percentage of U.S. adults who report having no close friends has quadrupled to 12% since 1990.” I wrote about it in July of 2025. Also, discussed “The Shape of Modern Loneliness” earlier in the year.

So, I can’t help but conclude that, indeed, the world needs more people’s people. I may not be the best one for the job, but I am going to try. I hope you will join me, too.

On to the lists. Add to them whatever suits you.