You’ve made it through another year, that’s worth celebrating. Take a moment to recognise the highs and lows, your achievements, and the great memories you’ve made. As the calendar turns, it’s the perfect time for a 2026 rebrand! It’s not about reinventing yourself overnight or following the unrealistic advice we see on social media. It’s about identity and direction, and then strategy and execution, consistently improving yourself, one step at a time.
So, where to start?
Firstly, it’s important to reflect on 2025. It’s more than just the aesthetics; you need to identify the bigger picture. Start by thinking about what energy you want to keep for 2026. What went well? What would you do again? Then decide what you want to leave behind. Think about your journey at university so far, as well as your personal life. Reflection is not about shaming yourself but instead acknowledging and learning from the past year to then shape the next. Who do you want to be? How do you want to live? What do you want to do?
Creating a visual tool can help to turn those thoughts and ideas into something more concrete. Start with a Pinterest board with images, colours, and quotes. This is an easy way to gather a clear direction on your 2026 rebrand. You could take it one step further and create a physical vision board, cut out magazine images, write affirmations, and pin your goals. Choose visuals that inspire you to act. Invite your friends round to plan your own rebrands and to support each other, share goals, and hold each other accountable.
What are some goals you could include?
The easiest way to begin is by choosing small, measurable, achievable goals. You could choose an example from below:
· Personal development: set one intention each morning, or journal three things you’re grateful for each evening
· Academic and career: apply to two placements, or update your LinkedIn profile
· Health: go for a daily walk for 20 minutes, do a ten-minute stretch routine twice a week, or drink an extra glass of water a day
· Lifestyle: pick a new signature colour to introduce to your outfits, declutter one area in your room, or try one new recipe each month
· Relationships: set a time to have phone call with a friend each week, or attend a new society and introduce yourself to two new people
· Finances: create and stick to a weekly shopping budget, or reduce food takeaway spending
These examples are a great place to start, but make sure your goals are ‘SMART’ – specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. It is also important to focus on what is in your control and what is not when goal setting.
How do you maintain and achieve the goals?
A great way to do this is by having monthly check-ins. Review what’s working and what’s not as well as obstacles that have been in the way of achieving particular goals. The aim is not perfection, but progress and alignment. Be prepared to be flexible and make tweaks so your rebrand stays realistic and who you want to be in 2026. It is also a good idea to have the vision board somewhere visible, such as your phone wallpaper or laptop background to channel and manifest this new energy into your everyday routine.
So, you’ve reflected, you’ve planned – now act. Your 2026 rebrand starts now!
