Sixty days into the new year and I haven’t ticked off a single 2026 goal. Not one! Time keeps sprinting ahead like it’s training for something I do not know off and every time a new month rolls in, time taps me on the shoulder like, “Babes… are you seeing this?” I even opened my PowerPoint goals document mid‑writing this, and honestly? The way nothing was ticked off… should I just give up?
But while I haven’t achieved much on paper and my goals remain untouched, I have been loyal and consistent with a few small rituals — the tiny things that have carried me and held my life together through the chaos. So let’s dive in.
1. My EarPods
Hanging on by a thread. Truly on their last leg and literalaly begging to be retired- yet they have carried me on countless commutes, saved me on lunch breaks, grocery runs, and those nighttime scaries when silence feels too loud. They hold an honourable spot in Tracey’s Top 5 Survival Kit, and they are definitely not number two.
2. My Lip Gloss
I refuse to be caught with dry, crusty lips. If the world were ending, I’d be going down with my lips mosturised, glossy and ready to meet the lord with shine. Somebody say Hallelujah.
3. HnB Lip Liner in Shade 08
You see how specific I am? Very demure, very mindful. It’s giving ”I know what I am doing”. I haven’t found another brown that matches the tone of my top lip without being too dark or too light. It’s perfect. I’m always hunting for brown lip liners — not sure what I’m gathering them for, but the collection continues.
4. My iPhone
Would this even be a list without my phone? Absolutely not. I use it for everything — writing, music, games, pretending to be on a call to avoid people… basically the essentials. I tried implementing “downtime hours” from 9–5 on weekdays. After that? I’m a menace.
5. Shin Ramyun
A love‑hate relationship, with the love slightly winning. People say noodles aren’t healthy, but after slaving away in the corporate world, sometimes a girl needs something warm, spicy, comforting and quick. Judge me later when my belly is full.
6. Clementines
I really love clementines (or “easy peelers” if you’re trying to be British). Sweet, juicy, citrusy — everything good. I’m currently doing a taste test of every supermarket’s version. Morrisons is in the lead, Tesco second, and M&S… surprisingly third and shockingly mid.
7. YouTube
My emotional support platform. YouTube is that one friend who never judges, always listens, and somehow knows exactly what mood I’m in. When I watch it after work, I feel like I’m truly home.
8. My Brown Adidas Gazelles
My favourite purchase in the last 60 days. Very comfy than the Sambas, cute, and annoyingly versatile. I didn’t love them at first, but now I try to build outfits around them. I get genuinely disappointed when they don’t match the vibe.
9. My Bible
Currently reading the book of Exodus, and all I can say is- God loves a dramatic entrance. He really does like to show off.
A mouthful, but worth it. As an acne‑prone, sensitive‑skinned girl, my face has mood swings — glowing one day, dull like the English weather the next. This serum calms everything down and keeps my skin very hydrated and pleasant. I’m already on my second bottle.
Currently Listening
My love, It’s so easy to get swept up in the sadness of not meeting the standards you set for yourself. Everyone is out here talking about Q1 to Q4 like life is a corporate strategy meeting, and meanwhile you’re just trying to remember where you kept your charger. But what if the real work isn’t in the quarterly milestones? What if all you actually need is to keep going — to keep showing up every single day, taking it one small step at a time? Starting tiny, but seeing it through.
As long as time keeps running (and it never seems to get tired), every day is a new chance to begin again — to fight, to pursue, to breathe, to live to do things that fills our cup. And somewhere in the middle of all that striving, It is okay to pause. To look around. To appreciate the little joys that stitch your mundane days together. Because sometimes it’s not about the grand achievements or the loud wins. Sometimes it’s the small, almost invisible things that matter most — the “well done” from a stranger on the Tube who sees you cramming possible interview answers, the thank‑you from a client you had seen that morning who was stressing, the warm feeling of knowing you made someone’s day a little lighter and brighter that one song you play on repeat that gets you through the day. These tiny moments count too. They are the soft proof that you’re moving, growing, living — even when your big goals are still waiting their turn.
These may not be “big achievements,” or fit into what is deemed conventional but they’re the small, steady joys that have carried me — the everyday comforts that make life feel softer, happier, easier and a little more Tracey.
What’s that one thing that has been carrying you through the year so far? Don’t think too much, just say what pops up on your mind first.
TE 
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