The flood of trends and resolutions that arrive with each New Year can make us want to collectively bang our heads against the wall. However, not all new fads are inherently evil. In fact, some actually encourage a healthier, more sustainable way of living. As we enter 2026, we should embrace the ins that make us more considerate and engaged community members, and ditch the outs that leave us unfulfilled and stressed.
In
Being a 10/10 pedestrian
Getting blocked by a snail-paced meanderer in the middle of the sidewalk is grounds for a full-fledged mental breakdown. With the continued rise of inconsiderate walkers, many have taken to social media with a unique way of enforcing pedestrian common courtesies — rating walkers on a scale of 1 to 10. Matt Bass, a New Yorker turned sidewalk etiquette influencer, has amassed 2.3 million likes across his TikToks while airing out the worst walkers in Manhattan. While this is perhaps just a modern form of hurling tomatoes in the town square, it does draw attention to a goal we should all be striving for in 2026 — being a courteous walker. Stay on the right side, don’t stop in the middle of the sidewalk and please stop scrolling and strolling.
Going to the movie theater
The popularization of streaming services has led to a decline in box office sales, prompting a widespread Hollywood initiative to bring back movie theater audiences. This has produced various outcomes, my personal favorite being AMC’S $25 million campaign, which brought us the iconic Nicole Kidman “magic of the movie theater” advertisement. This, along with frequent celebrity surprises during showings and a newfound emphasis on films made to be viewed in IMAX, has continued to build back the excitement surrounding seeing movies in theaters.
This year, the film releases are action-packed and high-intensity, demanding a full cinematic viewing experience. New movies such as “The Odyssey,” “Disclosure Day” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” are sure to pack stunning visuals and unforgettable stories, making it the perfect year to support your local movie theater.
An emphasis on individuality
From the most in-depth Spotify Wrapped yet to the custom bag charm rage that led to a Labubu selling for $140,000, it’s clear there is a cultural craving for individuality. With AI on the rise and brands already scrambling to stamp their products as “human-made,” we will likely continue to see a drastic increase in the desire to prove our “human-ness” by being one-of-a-kind. Interestingly, the fashion industry seems to already be complementing this desire with 2026 trends like “poet-core,” which encompass a highly varied, creative aesthetic and may also reflect a longing for a simpler time. While perhaps tied to our fear of a robot takeover, it is still exciting to see trends moving away from “one-size fits all” and encouraging unique, personal interpretations.
Out
Bailing
While I am usually too afraid of the social repercussions to actually bail on my plans, I am a serial “bail considerer.” But as we break into 2026, there has been a big push to step back from this isolating habit. Vogue’s article, “My New Year’s Resolution? To Bail Less,” highlighted the importance of this sentiment. Uber also recently ran an ad encouraging audiences to use its services as a way to show up more. This year, remind yourself of the fleeting nature of college life. Take advantage of your friends being close by and a wonderful city with so much to do. Be ambitious, keep those plans and seize every opportunity.
Blocking the pickup counter while you’re waiting for your food
This kind of goes along with the whole pedestrian thing.
Stressful hobbies
Elden Ring players, I’m looking at you.
Harper’s Bazaar captured it best when it described the cycle of optimized pleasure as “leisure that looks suspiciously like work and hobbies that require a personality transplant.” This year, you can finally stop pretending to love 5:30 a.m. hot yoga or cramming in another book just to update your Goodreads page. While it’s important to challenge yourself and stay busy, hobbies are only worth it if they truly bring you joy. In 2026, prioritize your mental health by finding a hobby that reduces stress instead of adding to it.
