Intentions Over Resolutions: Create an Environment That Helps You Write in

Why intention beats resolution

Every year we trot out goals and resolutions. The excitement is real for a while, and then life happens. Instead of wrestling with a list of outcomes, try shifting to an intention: a way of being that points you toward what you want. Intention asks, what kind of person do I want to become, and what can I change in my surroundings to make that easier?

Think like an athlete, not just a goal setter

When people set a goal to run three miles, many fail because they only focus on the single act. Athletes, on the other hand, construct environments that support performance. They stretch, they eat well, they buy appropriate gear, they train in varying conditions. The difference is not only effort; it is preparation and design. You can translate this to writing.

A small but powerful reframe

“I’m going to work like a professional writer, and I’m going to call myself a writer.”

Calling yourself a writer and aligning your daily life around that identity changes what you do, and how you set up your world.

Inventory your environment for writing success

Start 2026 by taking stock of what surrounds you. Environment here means mental, emotional, physical, and social spaces. Ask what currently helps and what currently gets in the way.

Mental environment

Internal dialogue: Are you encouraging or trash-talking yourself? Replace shame, guilt, comparison and self-doubt with curioity and steady progress.
Information diet: What are you reading, listening to, and consuming? Feed your brain useful, creative inputs.

Emotional environment

Emotional health: Do you have habits that help you arrive at your desk able to focus? Sleep, boundaries, and small rituals matter.
Creative safety : Create a space where drafts can be imperfect. Permission to fail fuels forward motion.
A supportive community: Even having just one person on your side helps keep your emotional environment healthy. A group of people is even better. (Check out our Writing Momentum Membership where we write together, learn together, and support each other weekly.)

Physical environment

Tools: Reliable hardware and software matter. A computer that crashes will derail momentum more often than lack of talent.
Ergonomics: A good chair, a decent desk height, proper lighting—your body should make writing possible, not painful.
Fuel: What you eat affects focus. Be mindful of what you eat and drink while writing. Find your healthy habits and gentle rewards. (A small piece of chocolate at the end of the time might be just what you need!)

Social environment

Accountability: Who do you tell about your intention? Find fellow writers or a small group that keeps you honest and kind to yourself.
Influences : Surround yourself with people who model the habits you admire.

Practical steps to build a writing-friendly environment

Intentions are easy to say and harder to arrange. Here are simple, actionable steps that help you embody your intention to be a writer.

Pick one identity: Label yourself. “I write” shifts choices more than “I want to write.”
Schedule protected time: Block short, regular sessions. Early mornings often give fresher brains and fewer interruptions.
Upgrade at least one tool: If your tech or chair is sabotaging you, fix it. Small investments save time and frustration.
Create a ritual: A 3-minute pre-writing routine signals your brain that it is time to write. Make it simple and repeatable.
Eat with purpose: Choose snacks and meals that sustain focus. Avoid heavy sweets before deep work.
Declutter one zone: Clear the physical or digital space where you write. Fewer distractions equal deeper focus.
Track the environment, not just output: Log what helped or harmed a session. Over time you learn what conditions produce your best work.

Questions to guide your 2026 intention plan

Use these prompts to create a short plan you can actually follow.

What one sentence identity will you adopt? (Example: “I am a writer who writes three mornings a week.”)
Which physical barrier will you fix first? (Computer, chair, lighting, etc.)
Who will be part of your social support or accountability this year?
What two daily rituals can you commit to for the next month?

Start small, design big

Resolutions can feel heavy because they emphasize outcomes. Intentions invite steady design. When you build an environment that nudges you toward the person you want to be, the work follows. You do not need to overhaul everything at once. Pick one change, test it, and adjust.

We will keep working on this together. Take the inventory, choose one action, and see how it shifts your writing life in 2026.

If you’re ready to give your writing momentum, download the Writing Momentum 6-week planner now.

Intentions Over Resolutions: Create an Environment That Helps You Write in 2026