Every founder has a “building year”: a season that isn’t necessarily glamorous but becomes the bedrock for everything that follows. As the co-founder of See You Next Tuesday Media, I found 2025 to be exactly that. It was the year I learned discipline the hard way, found systems that actually worked, and finally understood that consistency—more than intensity—is what grows a business.
And now, as we step into 2026, I’m carrying these habits forward as non-negotiables. This year won’t be about reinventing my workflow or adopting a shiny new mindset. It will be about amplifying the habits that helped me grow, applying them more intentionally, and scaling my startup with clarity.
Here are the four habits I’m leveraging in 2026, and how I plan to use them to build the strongest version of myself and my company.
Habit #1: Protecting Deep Work Blocks
What it is
Deep work is distraction-free, high-impact focus: no multitasking, no Slack pings, no half-working while answering emails. In 2025, I started scheduling 60–90 minute blocks for the tasks that actually move the business forward: strategy, product development, investor outreach, and long-term planning.
How I built it
Through ruthless time-blocking. I set Do Not Disturb modes, turned off all non-essential notifications, and trained myself to resist the urge to respond instantly. It felt unnatural at first, but eventually, those protected blocks became my most productive hours of the week.
How I’ll apply it in 2026
In 2026, deep work won’t be optional, it will be sacred. I’ll be doubling down on it as a core operating rhythm for strategic scale. My goal is to use these blocks to:
- finalize a stronger go-to-market roadmap
- build long-range product milestones
- strengthen data-driven investor materials
- pre-empt bottlenecks in operations and hiring
Habit #2: Weekly Founder Check-Ins
What it is
A structured weekly reflection—sometimes with my co-founder, sometimes solo—where I review progress, challenges, metrics, and priorities. Think of it as a sprint retrospective, but for founders.
How I built it
I borrowed from Agile frameworks and made it a ritual: every Friday afternoon or Sunday morning, I recap the week, rewrite priorities, and recalibrate where needed. It became a grounding moment in the chaos of startup life.
How I’ll apply it in 2026
In 2026, these check-ins will help me:
- stay aligned as responsibilities expand
- prevent “reactive mode” decision-making
- keep long-term vision connected to weekly execution
- measure whether our actions actually map to our goals
This year, the goal isn’t just to reflect, it’s to use those reflections to steer faster and smarter as the company accelerates.
Habit #3: Asking for Help Early (and Often)
What it is
Instead of waiting until something is perfect—or until I’m stuck—I reach out to mentors, advisors, or peers sooner than feels comfortable. This was one of the hardest habits I developed, but one of the most impactful.
How I built it
I booked office hours, joined founder groups, attended CfE workshops, and made it a practice to ask questions even when I felt unsure. I stopped trying to solve everything alone. And the results shifted everything.
How I’ll apply it in 2026
This year, seeking support will be a strategy, not a fallback. I’ll:
- deepen existing mentor relationships instead of only forming new ones
- tap into CfE’s programming to refine investor readiness
- be proactive about asking for introductions, feedback, and expertise
- engage advisors earlier in decisions around financing and partnerships
Habit #4: Protecting My Energy, Not Just My Time
What it is
Time management is tactical. Energy management is strategic. In 2025, I learned that protecting my creativity, focus, and physical wellbeing mattered as much as managing my calendar.
How I built it
I created boundaries: shutting down screens at a certain hour, building morning routines that helped me start intentional, and saying “no” more confidently, especially to opportunities that weren’t aligned.
How I’ll apply it in 2026
This year, protecting my energy will be a core leadership priority. I’ll:
- choose opportunities aligned with long-term strategy
- build rest into planning instead of squeezing it in afterward
- avoid burnout cycles by pacing high-intensity seasons
- structure work rhythms that support sustainable creativity
Looking Ahead: Building 2026 With Intention
These four habits shaped me in 2025, but they are the foundation I’m intentionally strengthening in 2026. This year is about scale, clarity, and discipline, not perfection. Founders don’t need dozens of resolutions; we need sustainable systems that help us show up consistently for the people we serve and the companies we’re building.
If you’re entering the new year with ambitions of your own—launching a startup, refining a venture, or learning the entrepreneurial mindset—the Centre for Entrepreneurship has resources that can support every habit on this list. From mentoring to workshops, pitch prep to co-working, you don’t have to build your 2026 alone.
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Here’s to a year of focus, momentum, and growth, one habit at a time.