Writing in 2026 and what carried on from 2025

This is the first post I've been able to start writing in 2026, even though we're almost into the third week. I've been wanting to write something since the start of the year, but just haven't found the confidence to do so. Usually with writing it's either motivation, finding the time, and/or having an idea. I've actually had all three (although timing was still tight), which is why I mentioned "confidence".

2025 was a weird year for me, in that it had some great highs and some terrible lows. 2025 ended on one of those terrible lows, which is all I'll say on it. Not trying to be secretive, I'm just still processing it in my own way.

I was planning on writing something about blogging today and before I opened up the editor I happened to check out the Pagecord homepage (it was cool to see my blog highlighted there as well). It was via there that I saw Olly's most recent post on 'new writing habit', in short he is spot on with his post. Writing little and often can lead to other pieces of work as they provide you with something that can be expanded upon and combined together to result in something more substantial. I've said previously on this blog that blogging helped me to put together the second half of my PhD thesis as the bones of the later chapters were initially blog posts which were then later merged together and expanded. I also tell my students about this approach.

Whilst this particular blog is less about helping my continued research (that's more the role of my other blog there could still be instances here where I talk about tech that could find its way into some other piece of writing.

I've been blogging at the very least monthly now for over a year. The longest I've ever managed to do so. Whilst this has been spread out across in total three different platforms I have been consistent in where that output can be found and roughly what type of content that will be. Here for more general blogging (like this post) and also observations on tech (plus some quick general things on videogames). My Pika blog Relative Nostalgia for long form posts linked to my research on videogames, nostalgia, and hauntology.

I've tried setting goals for my writing output and the only one I truly stick to is at least once a month. For Relative Nostalgia that will be enough, but I would like to maybe do two a month to help get more ideas thought out. As for this one, at one point I wanted to do three posts a week(!) but that doesn't seem achievable for me, and I don't want to write for the sake of it. One post a week, possibly a reflection of things that I have observed, now that could be doable.

I enjoy writing, I enjoy blogging, and I feel better just writing this post. So getting into some loose habit will be good for me. I think of the other thing I started in 2025 and am still doing a year later, and that is going to the gym. I now go three times a week (and that's most weeks too). My body is far healthier as a result which has directly helped me deal with the lows of 2025. Going to the gym is not just about weight lose (but if that's what you need then with the right plan it will help), being asthmatic and also having a job and hobbies that involved sitting in front of screens getting moving prevents the body from succumbing to the weaknesses that being idle can bring. Getting the blood flowing is also great for your mood. Whilst I'm typically a glass half kind of person - meaning, I never consider it half empty or half full - having that additional energy helps with turning away from a half empty mindset.

I've got some exciting things on the horizon which are in motion which I'll talk about more in the future. Recently my paper on AI and Luddites was finally published which you can read here. 2026 is looking to be a year of writing, so I better get on with it.