Another year full of ‘achievements’, and I couldn’t be any more proud and more grateful for everything this year. It’s time to reflect, compare with the previous year – and make plans for the year ahead.
Nights (not) Spent in My Own Bed (NSMOB)
2024: 15%
2025: 20%
20%, a full 5% increase this year for the most beautiful city in the world!! That’s not exactly true about the beauty ranking, but Sydney is definitely in my Top 5, and they rotate a bit. Sydney feels also more peaceful than ever – after a mysterious long absence, the seal is back on the Opera house steps; the tourists changed from loud and drunk to quiet and appreciative, and I discovered beaching thanks to the abc pool being closed for renovation (until recently – it’s open again!). In case you wonder where I spent the other 80% – most of it was in Melbourne; and these two cities really are just so different, and both just so, so good. I love the morning heartbeat in Sydney, just as I really do appreciate an early evening coffee in Melbourne; that evolves into a drink, and then dinner, and then just a fun night, and thus into a late morning.
2026 target: I consider this metric to be an outcome of work and life, I won’t be setting any targets
Workouts Logged (WL)
2024: 264 runs, 2256 km, 303 Oura activity crowns
2025: 250 runs, 2059 km, 323 Oura activity crowns
Fewer and shorter runs, sadly, but still almost double my earlier results since 2009, and my fastest 5 k ever. What’s more, this year, there was a real winter for me. October – December I spent in Toronto, and every morning I’d get up thinking “That’s it, no more running in that cold and nasty weather”, but then I’d see my running shoes, put on my layers, and just go. Minus 10 degrees, snow, dark, or windy, I proudly ran my 7-10 k. I also have to say – Toronto knows how to do winter. They put salt everywhere as soon as there is a bit of snow or icy rain, and in the morning, you’ll have perfect dry conditions on the road to run. Very unlike Europe! This year, I also returned to high-end gyms. Equinox has been just SUCH a treat. Gives me Moscow and Singapore vibes every time I go!
2026 target: 2000+ km, maybe some weight lifting targets, though my Physio tells me to chill a bit …
Meals Skipped (MS)
Not consistently tracked, probably same-same for 2024/ 2025
This year started strong with a 7-day water fast, but then … My Auckland hotel had the best breakfast/ brunch, and I just couldn’t resist. I also listened to too many Huberman Lab and Peter Attia Drive podcasts and got a bit brainwashed about the need to supply protein soon-ish after a workout, and about just how much protein you need (2 grams/ kg weight, the older, the more!), so this year was a bit less structured. There were also more berries, pineapples, iceberg lettuce heads, beetroots, and other crunchy vegetables in my diet, as well as a lot of oysters (Melbourne spoiled me) and many more protein shakes (do you also like the taste of a mojito for breakfast, as if you were out dancing all night? Always impressed with the flavor ideas from MyProtein). I got my blood taken on Dec 31, results still outstanding. Oura has given me minus 6-7 years of cardiovascular age lately, though, so I should be fine.
2026 target: a 10-day water fast, otherwise lots of protein ideally as 1 steak/ day
(Too few) Weekend Trips Taken (WTT)
2024 & 2025: so few, I am embarrassed to disclose publicly
If you stay in the city where you work, does it count as a weekend trip, or is this cheating? The two 2025 weekend trips I am proud of: Canberra and Europe. I finally went to Canberra after living in Australia for 3+ years (it took me 18+ years in Germany to visit Berlin, so that’s not too bad!). The reason I went: a free hotel night about to expire. So I took the train from Sydney (how European of me, right?) and explored the galleries and nature for a weekend. The Europe trip – a long weekend in Switzerland, exploiting the overnight flight option from Toronto to spend time with my family. A real treat.
2026: 5+ weekend trips (really can’t be THAT hard!), and at least 2 new countries. I have 2 free hotel nights and some points expiring in the next months, a reason to stop delaying
Time Driving (actively behind the wheel) (TD)
2024: 3 days
2025: 1 day
While in Switzerland this last summer, I decided to refresh my memory, so that, sadly, I cannot claim a proud zero for 2025. Not sure how proud I should be though, there were countless occasions where I almost rented a car to drive somewhere but then my laziness navigated me towards “tour” instead of the behind-the-wheel option. On the other hand, that allowed me to indulge in wine tasting or enjoy a glass of something fancy while watching the sunset, and then sleeping on the way back home; which wouldn’t have been possible if I were driving.
2026 target: 0 or 7+; if I start, I will make an effort to keep it up!
To another year of questionable achievements vol 3?
After last year’s family-style NYE, I was back to watching the fireworks in Sydney, and, more importantly, enjoying the sunshine over the break. As last year, there was no hang-over (alcohol inhibits muscle build-up, and I can’t go lift and not get the results, just unacceptable), just good vibes. And yes, I did make other more helpful resolutions for this year, too, but they also rather boring, so I will keep them to myself.
Dear universe – I cannot wait for this year to unfold!!!
Wishing everyone an exciting 2026,
Katia