The Year Everything Changed (And Why That Matters Before 2026)

At the start of 2025, I was living a double life.

On the surface, I had it all figured out. Successful corporate career. Stable paycheck. The kind of resume that looks impressive on LinkedIn. But underneath? I was exhausted, insecure, and wrapped so tightly in other people’s expectations that I’d lost sight of who I actually was.

My third marriage had been separated for several years. I felt like a failure. And I was trying to build a business on nights and weekends while working a full-time job that was draining every ounce of my energy.

Then something shifted.

My husband and I started talking again. Really talking. For the first time in 5+ years, we actually listened to each other. We had worked on ourselves individually. We learned how to communicate in ways that actually worked. And we realized something that seemed impossible: we wanted the same things. We shared the same values. We could actually make this work.

That reconciliation was the catalyst for everything.

It clarified what was actually important to me. It shifted my priorities in a way that no goal-setting exercise ever could. And it gave me permission to make the biggest decision of my life: I quit my corporate career.

Not because I failed. Not because I gave up. But because I finally understood that I couldn’t build the life I wanted while living someone else’s schedule. I couldn’t become the person I was meant to be while trying to be the person my employer needed me to be.

So I became a full-time homemaker and entrepreneur. And everything changed.

Who I Was vs. Who I’m Becoming

At the start of 2025, most of my identity was wrapped up in my corporate title and my role as a mother. I was insecure. I was unhealthy. I was overweight. And I carried the weight of three failed marriages like a scarlet letter.

Today? I’m confident. I’m happy. I’m a wife, a mother, and an entrepreneur building something that’s entirely mine.

But here’s the thing: that transformation didn’t happen because I made a New Year’s resolution or found the perfect productivity system. It happened because I got honest about what was actually working in my life and what wasn’t.

And that’s why reflection matters so much before you jump into 2026 planning.

Most of us skip the reflection part. We’re so eager to move forward, to set new goals, to become “new” versions of ourselves, that we forget to ask: What actually worked this year? What did I learn? Who did I become?

If you do that, you’ll be building your 2026 on a foundation that might not even fit who you are anymore.

The Consistency Pattern That Changed Everything

In 2025, I noticed something powerful: my health is directly connected to my consistency.

When I followed the healthy habits my medical team recommended—consistently—my health markers improved. Everything got easier. My energy increased. My mood stabilized. My ability to execute on my other goals became effortless.

But the moment I got complacent? The moment I stopped being consistent? I backslid. Fast.

That taught me something crucial: my health has to be my #1 priority now. Not my business. Not my goals. Not my productivity. My health.

Because when I take consistently good care of myself, executing on everything else becomes so much easier.

This is what we talk about in this week’s post, “Consistency Without Shame: Review 2025 Like a Kind Boss.” It’s not about being perfect. It’s not about doing everything every day. It’s about noticing the patterns—where you showed up, where you fell off, what that reveals about your actual priorities.

And then making small adjustments, not total overhauls.

The Small Wins That Prove You’re Capable

I almost overlooked this one, but I’m so proud of it: I fully embraced AI as an amplification and productivity tool.

That might not sound like a big deal. But for someone who’s 50+ and worried about being “too old” to learn new things? It was huge. It proved to me that I’m not stuck. I’m not limited by my age or my background. I can learn. I can grow. I can do more than I previously thought possible.

That’s the kind of small win that compounds into big changes. Not the Instagram-worthy achievements. The quiet ones. The ones that build your confidence and prove to yourself that you’re capable of more than you believed.

What’s Coming This Week

This next week, we’re diving into clarity. Real clarity. Not the fluffy “find your passion” kind, but the practical, honest kind: What actually worked for you in 2025? What can you build on?

And then we’re celebrating Real AF Wins—and we want to hear yours. We’re inviting our community to share one win from 2025 that they almost overlooked. Because progress over perfection means celebrating the small stuff.

Your Turn

Before you dive into 2026 planning, I want to ask you: Who were you at the start of 2025? Who are you now? What’s one thing you’re releasing that no longer serves you?

Drop your reflection in the comments, or reply to the email newsletter. Share your story. Let’s celebrate what you’ve become this year—because you deserve to see how far you’ve come.

And if you haven’t grabbed the free Miracle Month Planner yet, now’s the time. It’s designed to help you turn this reflection into action, with clarity and ease.

What are you releasing in 2026? What are you becoming? Let’s talk about it.

Subscribe to keep up with the weekly reflections, real-talk strategies, and community wins.

With gratitude and celebration,

Jenn Fast

P.S. — Next week is all about clarity. Then we’re celebrating your wins. Don’t miss it.

About This Newsletter

This week’s reflection is inspired by two posts from the Productive AF blog:

* “Feeling Lost After a Big Life Change? 7 Identity Prompts to Find Clarity in Your Second Act” — A deep dive into identity evolution and the Release/Reveal framework for women navigating major life changes.

* “Consistency Without Shame: Review 2025 Like a Kind Boss (Not Your Inner Critic)” — How to review your year with compassion, bust the myths keeping you stuck, and make small adjustments that compound into big changes.

Both posts are part of our Empowered Mindset and Consistency with Ease content pillars—because real productivity starts with self-compassion and alignment.

P.S. Tools I Love & Use:

* Descript (podcast/video editing): 50% off for 2 months

* Skool: Join a movement of 172k passionate people earning $1+ billion per year building communities

* Stewards Bundle: A private Skool space is where purpose-driven entrepreneurs gather to take full ownership of what they already have: their time, skills, energy, and income, and grow with intention in 2026 and beyond. Unlock a curated collection of high-value tools from trusted experts, including yours truly.

* Primal Queen (women’s supplements)

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Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction: Living a Double Life

00:37 Meet Jen Fast: Host of Productive AF

00:50 The Importance of Reflection

01:29 Personal Struggles and Reconciliation

02:33 Quitting the Corporate Life

04:40 Embracing Health and Consistency

05:30 The Kind Boss Framework

06:10 Celebrating Small Wins

07:23 Community Engagement and Reflection

09:00 Final Thoughts and Next Steps

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit itsjennfast.substack.com