It’s a few days before Christmas.
If you said you were “downing tools” and finishing work, why are you reading this?!
And if you’re reading this on your commute, or because you’ve found a spare five minutes between tasks, thank you – LinkedIn never sleeps right?!
Just a reminder though, given what we’ve talked about in the last few newsletters. Scrolling through your phone isn’t being present!
That said, I appreciate you reading this – the irony!
So, in the spirit of keeping this light, here are seven trends I think will quietly take off in 2026.
No data. No evidence. Just my observation.
1. Less social media
Not deleting everything. Not disappearing – or maybe. Afterall Instagram and Facebook is utter s***e, toxic and poisonous.
Yes yes I know, I have accounts on both, but truth be told I despise them. However it’s for business reasons only – I post and I run. It’s taken me a long time to learn that though.
Anyway for me, no business comes through those channels – more and more of my clients now come from here – I just feel the need to keep a presence on those other platforms, especially for my podcast – Beyond the Battlefield (shameless plug.)
People are becoming far more aware of what constant scrolling is doing to attention, mood and thinking. Doom scrolling isn’t relaxing. It’s mentally exhausting. As a self-destruction habit it’s up there with booze and fast food, if not worse.
Less stimulation. Less comparison. Less distraction.
And before anyone says, LinkedIn isn’t social media! (If used correctly)
2. Zero alcohol
Not moderation. Not “only at weekends”.
Zero – I did 36 days earlier this year. It was after a summer period where I felt things slipping after a few back to back festivals and needed to regain control. (I appreciate 36 days doesn’t sound like a lot especially for a performance coach, but if you’re new to my channel there’s a lot for you to discover!)
Anyway, I felt AMAZING! Everything became easier. (Mental note to self – bare this in mind Oliver.)
But more and more people are noticing how little alcohol gives back compared to what it takes. Sleep, recovery, mood and energy all improve VERY quickly when it’s removed.
Mood was the biggest one for me – hangxiety anyone?
“Once you feel that difference, it becomes harder to justify bringing it back regularly.”
I think this becomes quieter and more normal, not something people announce (especially if trend number 1 takes off and you delete FB and Insta!)
3. Zero caffeine
This one will divide opinion:
“Caffeine itself isn’t the issue – reliance is.”
More people are starting to question why they need stimulants just to function through a normal day. They’re starting to realise that good ol’ lifestyle and nutrition is the old age cure for nearly anything!
When sleep, nutrition and recovery are actually addressed, caffeine becomes optional rather than essential.
That’s a subtle but important shift.
4. Self-awareness
Not in a vague or philosophical sense.
People are becoming more aware of themselves. Their bodies. Their reactions. Their intuition. The people around them.
They’re noticing what drains them. What gives them energy. What they actually want, not just what they’ve been chasing.
Putting that awareness into practice, though, is harder.
“It requires honesty. Boundaries. And a willingness to change behaviour, not just recognise it.”
But once awareness is there, it’s difficult to ignore.
5. Spirituality
Not religion. Not trends.
Understanding yourself. Your values. Your limits. Your worth outside of output.
As people move through mid-career and beyond, achievement alone stops being enough.
“Meaning starts to matter more.”
I think this quietly becomes one of the biggest shifts of all.
6. Journaling
Not sitting cross-legged with a leather notebook.
Writing things down.
A diary. A blog. A LinkedIn newsletter (hello). An end-of-day gratitude list. A short list of wins. Or simply getting thoughts out of your head and onto paper.
Creative writing has far more purpose and power than most people realise.
It slows thinking. It creates perspective. It helps process pressure.
As our resilience coach, Jamie Turnbull teaches,
“Writing is one of the most effective tools for building clarity, emotional regulation and resilience under sustained demand.”
You don’t need to do it perfectly. You just need to do it consistently.
Once thoughts are on paper, they’re easier to understand and far less likely to stay stuck in your head.
7. Mobility
Not extreme flexibility. Not mad unrealistic positions seen on some s***e social media channel (told you.)
Just moving your body properly again.
People who have spent years saying, “I’m too old for that,” or “my body doesn’t move like that,” are starting to realise something important.
Their body doesn’t move like that because they stopped asking it to.
Simple mobility work. Yoga-type movements. Gentle routines done regularly.
It restores range. Reduces stiffness. Improves how you feel day to day.
And it’s one of the easiest wins available – and I talk from experience believe me!
“It’s free. It’s subtle. And it pays back quickly.”
For many, mobility isn’t about performance.
It’s about staying capable.
The reason I’ve picked these isn’t because they’re fashionable.
It’s because they’re changes I’ve seen slowly taking shape throughout 2025.
The norms are shifting. People are becoming more self-aware. They’re seeing the link between health and performance more clearly. And they’re starting to understand how much one affects the other.
We blinked and 2025 was over.
Another year gone, almost unnoticed.
Moments like that sharpen perspective.
People are realising they have one life, one body and one opportunity to look after both properly.
And that awareness changes behaviour.
None of these are revolutionary.
They’re corrections.
Small moves away from constant stimulation, distraction and exhaustion and back toward something more sustainable.
I could be wrong.
If you think I’ve missed something, comment below. If you disagree with any of them, comment below.
I’m always interested in what others are noticing.
Chat soon, Ollie.
#Leadership #HealthUnderPressure #SustainedPerformance
