How can I make 2026 my best year? Ali Abdaal's 3-Step Framework Explained

Hello there, friend! I am Manabi Kuma, and I am so happy to help you grow today. Imagine your life is like a big, round wheel on a bicycle. If the wheel is bumpy or missing a piece, the ride won't be very smooth, will it? To make next year amazing, we first need to look at our wheel to see if it is round and strong, Kuma!

Ali Abdaal (Ali Abdaal) suggests a wonderful tool called the Wheel of Life. To do this, draw a circle and split it into three big slices: health, relationships, and work. Then, split those into three smaller pieces each. For health, think about your body, mind, and soul. For relationships, look at romance, family, and friends. Finally, for work, focus on your mission, money, and growth. This gives you nine areas to check on, Kuma!

Now, give each area a score from 0 to 10. Don't worry about being perfect! A 10 means you are doing exactly what you want to be doing right now. A 0 means you feel very far away from your goal. We call this alignment. It is like making sure your compass is pointing in the right direction so you don't get lost in the woods.

Once you have your numbers, shade in the slices of your wheel. Does it look like a smooth circle or a jagged star? By looking at this map, you can see which parts of your life need more love and sunshine. For Ali Abdaal, he noticed his 'friends' category was a bit low, so he decided to give it more attention. You can do the same, Kuma!

Remember, this exercise is just a way to take a friendly inventory. It is like checking your backpack before a big hike to make sure you have everything you need. Be honest with yourself, but be kind too! Even a small score is just a chance to grow something beautiful. Let's start this journey together, Kuma!

Now that we know where we are, let's think about where we want to go! Imagine it is one year from today. You are sitting down for a delicious dinner with a very good friend. You are smiling because you are celebrating all the wonderful things you did this year. This is what we call the 12-Month Celebration method, Kuma!

For each of those nine areas we talked about, ask yourself: 'What would I love to be celebrating one year from now?' Maybe you want to celebrate working out three times a week, or perhaps spending more time with your grandma. It is like planting a seed today so you can pick the flowers later. Pick just one main goal for the areas that need the most help, Kuma!