Recent years have seen the rise of Ins and Outs, where people express things they want to keep or start doing as an “In” and things they want to leave behind as an “Out.” Based on the language around trends, which go in and out of style, this phenomenon has gained popularity as people favor less restrictive ways of forming New Year’s resolutions. We’ve got some strong opinions on how we want our 2026 to go! 

2026 Ins:

Talking to strangers: Compliment someone, ask for directions (even if you don’t need them), or just say hello. It sounds scary, but it gets less awkward the more you do it.

• Sasha Volovnikov, Director of Photography

Dark woke: We can be progressive and empathetic without also being humorless and insufferable! No more endless left-wing infighting, no more taking the high road with Republicans who would never return the favor. 

• Dylan Berman, Investigative & Opinion Editor

Sewing: Ever since I started watching Project Runway, I’ve really come to appreciate the art that goes into making clothes, and I want to learn to sew this year.

•   Naja Johnson, News Editor 

LinkedIn: 2026 is the year we LOCK IN. Get those connections up, folks. All the homies are getting employed. 

• Diego Dumlao, Sports Editor 

Reading Spectator’s Picks: On page three of The Spectator, there is a big red box labeled “Spectator’s Picks.” In that box, we curate two to three events that we think look cool. Fun things happen around campus! You should check them out!

• Annabelle DeGuzman-Carino, Lead Designer

Handwriting: When and, more importantly, why did pen and paper become old-fashioned? I know the answer lies in convenience and sustainability, but I love seeing people’s handwriting. How we dot our i’s and cross our t’s reveals quirks I find charming. One of my favorite things about my birthday is receiving handwritten cards from people. Chicken scratch, cursive or something in between, I love to see it!

People need to feel comfortable writing again in ways that extend beyond academic settings. Whether it’s journaling, writing letters or leaving a note behind for a coworker, we need to be writing more.

• Leila Bunker, Editor-in-Chief

Going on your phone less and not telling anyone about it: If your ‘social media detox’ gets announced on your social media, it’s time for some introspection. Getting off of social media is not an end in itself, but a means to living a more intentional life. Focusing on that will lead you to more happiness and validation than self-help trendhopping ever will.

• Milan Damjanac, News Editor

2026 Outs:

Non-personalized recommendations: I honestly do not care if that show or song is your favorite; if you don’t know me well enough to tell whether or not I’ll like it, I don’t want to hear it.

• Matthew Mai, Social Media Manager

The parking garage at the Capitol Hill Trader Joe’s: If you have ever been unlucky enough to drive a car to this Trader Joe’s, you will understand what I am talking about. Everyone should honestly just walk or take public transit to get there. Don’t risk it. 

• Natalie Schorr, Digital Media Producer

Turning every cafe into a study spot: While a good study spot is gold, our minds need to relearn how to enjoy a nice atmosphere without a laptop in front of our faces for hours, and maybe have a conversation or sit with our thoughts instead.

• Hadia Noor Ahmed, Managing Editor

Wearing an Apple Watch 25/7: Repeat after me: “I do not need to be accessible at every moment of the day. I do not need to track my steps on a daily basis. I do not need a computer on my wrist all of the time. I will unplug this year.”

• Kaitlyn Delfs, Copy Chief & Online Editor

Stage fright: I promise that nobody is analyzing your every move and despising you for expressing yourself, and if they are, they’ve got serious problems that have nothing to do with you. Consider it exposure therapy—it’s good for you! The world is going to end, and we’re all going to die; you may as well enjoy yourself.

• Keagen Brooks-Torres, Arts & Entertainment Editor