How to live your best life in 2026

Why your 2026 ‘best life’ starts with small shifts

With the new year approaching, there’s a certain pressure to make grand resolutions to change your life for the better. These big changes are often difficult to put into practice once the novelty wears off, which is why many resolutions only last a few weeks.

A more effective approach is to make small, consistent tweaks to your everyday routine that add up to a big change over a longer time period. Adopting incremental lifestyle changes takes the pressure off finding perfection straight away - and these well-being pillars are a great place to start.

Make time and space for yourself

With so much competing for our attention, time is often the most valuable gift you can give yourself. Time to just be. Discovering how to live your best life starts with this simple truth. In between the constant demands from work, social media and family, look to create micro-moments of solitude and rest.

Set your boundaries by giving your rest time a focus. Dedicate time to the hobbies and activities you love. Pick up that novel you’ve been meaning to read. Go for a walk in those woods you’ve been dying to explore. Enjoy that spa day when you know you need a little R&R.

And if you need to remind yourself what ‘time for yourself’ really looks like, book in at the Glass House. With timetabled classes, quiet corners and countryside views, you’ll start 2026 feeling fresh and ready to live your best life.

Nourish your body with balance, not restriction

Living your best life starts with fuelling yourself well. Many of us underestimate how much impact the wrong type of food can have on our bodies and sense of wellness. A balanced and nutritious menu is crucial to our mental and physical well-being.

To make a new menu stick, find new healthy meals and recipes that you enjoy. Rather than focusing on what you’re cutting down on, open up new tastes and flavour combinations that you look forward to. A long-term focus on regular, nutritious meals that you actually enjoy, rather than short-term dieting, is the best way to look after yourself.

The easiest way to do this is to prepare ahead and write a meal plan for the upcoming week. Consider your portion sizes, how well-balanced your meals typically are and how much water you drink. Our nutritionists at the Glass House can help you create nourishing, balanced menus with simple planning habits that you can take home with you.

Move in ways that energise you

As our lives become more comfortable, they are increasingly static. Getting up and moving your body is key to maintaining health and happiness. This doesn’t have to mean gruelling workouts and tough gym sessions (unless you want it to), your focus should be on joyful, accessible movement.

Knowing how to live your best life means finding the movement that energises you, whether that is yoga, walking, dance, or a cardio workout. This won’t just keep you in good shape - studies have shown that regular and varied exercise can limit long-term illness, boost our longevity, improve our moods and stave off depression.

At the Glass House, we have a range of fitness classes, from yoga to BoxFit, designed for all abilities and levels. You can find your rhythm with a mini weekly movement plan that fits your lifestyle and energy levels, then keep it going back home.

Calm your mind with mindfulness

Advice on how to live your best life often includes practising and maintaining mindfulness - and for good reason. Simply put, this is the ability to observe our thoughts, feelings and actions without judgment. This mental step back allows us to consider whether all those worries and stresses need to be mulled over in that moment and lets us to be fully present.

If you’re not sure where to start, try calming exercises such as mindful breathing, short meditiation or mindful stretching. These exercises have shown to bring emotional, cognitive and interpersonal benefits. You could also try journaling and setting simple digital boundaries (rather than a ‘full’ digital detox) to reduce stress and improve sleep.

At the Glass House, our Mindfulness sessions show you how different breathing practices and meditations can quickly bring a state of calm and relaxation. These simple techniques are designed to be continued at home and start a new year of mental wellness.

Reconnect with nature every day

Reconnecting with the natural world brings so many benefits, and the studies are there to prove it. Among many other things, spending time in nature can reduce stress, boost your immunity, and improve your concentration. And you don’t have to trek into the wilderness to feel the effects, even the smallest amounts of nature can have a noticeable impact on your body and brain.

There are many ways to bring nature into your everyday life. Spend a few minutes walking barefoot in the dewy grass every day. Practise shinrin-yoku, the art of forest-bathing in your local woodlands. Dive into the local wild swimming spot. Enjoy the sun on your face with a picnic at your local park.

The Glass House is the perfect place to switch off, unwind and reconnect with nature in the lush Essex countryside. With verdant views, outdoor spaces and a natural swim pond, you’ll find the perfect place to reset and reflect with time spent in nature.

Cold water swimming and gentle cold therapy in 2026

Speaking of wild swimming, the practice of cold water therapy is gaining popularity as more people experience its benefits. Cold therapy is the slow exposure to cold temperatures, often by wild swimming in lakes, rivers or the sea. It’s an ancient practice, now backed by modern science, with potential to boost circulation, reduce inflammation and strengthen the immune system.

To gain the benefits, it’s important to start gently. Build your body up to cold therapy gradually by trying cool (and then cold) showers at home. Once you are ready, head for wilder options or a whole body cryotherapy in a controlled, staff-supervised treatment at The Glass House to experience the benefits of cold therapy.

Strengthen your connections and community

Humans are social creatures and community is an important part of our mental wellbeing. Our social connections play a large element in how to live your best life, but all the distractions in our modern world can stop us maintaining these friendships.

By growing a community around us, we enrich our lives with shared experiences and support. Research suggests that a sense of belonging can lead to better resilience, motivation and mental health. If you’re feeling disconnected, consider calling (not texting) friends or arranging a regular catch up or walk. Show up when loved ones reach out for help or connection.

Make new social connections by joining new clubs to find others with shared interests. At The Glass House, our group classes, communal dining help visitors meet like-minded guests and inspire a more social outlook back at home.

Practice gratitude

Consumed by the frantic rush of the everyday, it’s easy to focus solely on the things in our lives that are problematic or missing. And while these things do need our attention, it’s important to also spend time being grateful for the positive aspects in our life. Practicing gratitude is regularly associated with greater happiness, training the mind to balance any of life’s resentments with reminders to appreciate what we have.

For many, this means thinking of one or two things to be grateful for each day although this can easily be taken a step further. Write a letter expressing gratitude to someone meaningful in your life. Take time to focus on the simple things. Write a list of five things to be grateful for each day.

Commit to friendships

Humans are social creatures and community is an important part of our mental wellbeing. Social connection plays a major part in determining our long-term wellbeing and health however, we

often underestimate the commitment needed to maintain those essential friendships. If you’re feeling disconnected, consider calling (not texting) friends or arranging a regular catch up or walk. Join a new club to find others with shared interests and show up when loved ones reach out for help or connection.