2025 was an unsettling year, with government decisions being made or under consideration that will consequently affect our personal lives and businesses’ futures. Whether things are changing on the local or international levels, whether we agreed or disagreed, we no longer felt in control.
It is therefore no surprise that “rage bait” was Oxford’s word of the year –
Defined as “online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage by being frustrating, provocative, or offensive,”
Who knows what 2026 will bring, but I think we can all agree we want to empower ourselves by making business and life decisions that feel positive and productive.
The most crucial first step towards a better 2026 will be changing old habits for new ones
1. Whether your New Year means setting resolutions, goals, or just writing a serious to-do list, keep it short, attainable and as specific as possible—separate business and personal goals. Simply put, don’t set yourself up for failure or feeling overwhelmed.
2. You’ve seen those posts, “I’m taking a break from social media”, then the person returns, they are again embroiled in whatever is going on. The truth is, addiction to our cell phones and social media accounts is out of control, and breaks are not going to change that. Both are producing unhealthy emotions, not the least of which is anger.
A good start to getting technology under control in 2026 is to unplug for the first hour of your day and the last hour before sleep. Turning them on and off at scheduled times each day provides an opportunity to reset and refocus. To remember “What brings you pleasure?” What grounds you?
Morning: A quiet cup of coffee before everyone gets up? A morning run/walk? Meditation?
Evening: Journaling? A good book? Relaxing bath?
From there, you can start blocking off more time, because your real life and the people in it are right in front of you.
3. When it comes to your business, move beyond the discord of 2025. Don’t get me wrong, you need to respond to an unhappy customer. First, take the time to decide how YOU want to solve the problem, don’t let them tell you what to do. Then keep your reply brief and to the point. Most importantly, don’t match or feed into their emotions.
Research shows that consumers are growing tired of the angry people. They want to see you, the business owner, deal with them (as outlined above) and then move on to positive posts. They are looking for an authentic connection, for you to showcase who you are and also be interested in them and what they are seeking from your company.
Make 2026 the year you concentrate on what you can control. Act, don’t react. Keep things simple and well, breathe! Happy New Year.
Jill Crossland is a business and marketing consultant who can take your business and social media to the next level.