Ready for a better year ahead? Experts weigh in on the habits to drop in 2025 and the ones to build in 2026

Ready for a better year ahead? Experts weigh in on the habits to drop in 2025 and the ones to build in 2026 Premium

The new year is almost here, along with that comes the usual conversation of new beginnings and resolutions. Then begins the tussle between willpower and letting go. It can be overwhelming to decide what habits to pick and what to ditch, especially if you have a rapidly crumbling resolve. We speak to experts who tell us what to incorporate into our schedules in 2026.

Stylist and costume designer

Divyak D'Souza had never thought of a career in fashion. But here he is, styling celebrities, creating costumes, and hosting shows; visibly in love with what he does. “I was studying Mass Media, when I started working as an intern at GQ magazine. I was with the production department, in charge of getting tea, coffee, change of clothes etc. Arjun Bhasin, fashion director of the magazine and a costume designer, asked me to work in the fashion department because he felt I had what it takes. So by the time I was 20, I started styling for the magazine and fell in love with fashion,” says Divyak. In 2016, he started freelancing as a stylist and was also the host on the show Say Yes To The Dress India.

Divyak D'Souza | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The whole game of personal styling has exploded 10-fold now, believes Divyak, who has been part of this industry for 15 years. Over the years, he has styled numerous big names from Bollywood such as Kareena Kapoor Khan, Tabu, Amir Khan, Farhan Akhtar...

Tabu styled by Divyak | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

“I enjoy the process of creating visuals and stories through clothes, be it a one-minute ad film, a fashion shoot for a magazine or giving a personality a certain look and feel,” says 37-year-old Divyak. From his recent assignments he says, he enjoyed putting together Kareena's look for a press conference. She wore a shirt by Ladakhi label Namza Couture and a himroo weave skirt by Re-ceremonial. “It's interesting to play around with young Indian labels. They are doing a great job in the space of Indian craft preservation,” he says, adding, “Tabu is a brilliant muse too and is open to ideas. We did a shoot with her and gave her a fresh look with curly hair.”

Divyak says he is lucky to do a job that is creative and fun on most days. “Once I finish an assignment, I check out and don't pay attention to what's being said on Instagram about it or what critics say. I see constructive feedback and try to improve.”

Three habits to leave behind in 2025

Over consumption: Being mindful of consumption patterns across the board.

Dressing up for others: We should be dressing up for ourselves and presenting ourselves to the world in a way that articulates our self expression rather than seeking the approval of others.

Being unkind: With social media and the whole freedom to say whatever you want and leaving the meanest of comments anonymously... that kind of unkindness is awful.

Three habits to adopt in 2026

Dressing in homegrown textiles and crafts: I am a big champion of talent that Indian designers have and the rich textile and craft heritage our county has. Be local, buy local is one of the best things I did for my personal wardrobe as well.

Making space at the table for different voices: Being more inclusive of different kinds of voices and perspectives. We are already seeing it in fashion in the form of age inclusivity, size inclusivity and different forms of gender expression getting acceptance.

Taking a pause before reacting/deciding: As a society we must be a little more mindful whether it is reacting on social media or a professional or personal situation. Take a pause, understand the different perspectives and then give our take on the matter.

Global wellness leader

For many years, the Chelsea football team had an Indian member — Dr Vinay Menon. “I spent more than four years with Chelsea Football Club as Head of Wellness and Wellness Coach. My responsibility was to support players through recovery, sleep, and overall well-being during a very intense and successful phase for the club. It taught me that performance is sustained not by pushing harder, but by recovering smarter,” says Vinay, who is now based out of the UAE, and is Head of Sports and Wellness, Burjeel Holdings, a healthcare group. Vinay's task is to take lessons from elite sport and apply them to preventive healthcare and community well-being. “We work with children, working professionals, and older adults, using modern science — sleep medicine, brain optimisation, health data — alongside holistic practices. The aim is to create healthier, happier people across every stage of life,” he explains.

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - FEBRUARY 12: of Chelsea during the FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021 Final match between Chelsea v Palmeiras at Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium on February 12, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images) 20WK | Photo Credit: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images

While there is much brouhaha surrounding wellness lately, Vinay says it is something very simple. “It's about waking up with energy, sleeping well at night, and having the emotional space to enjoy life. It's not a luxury — it's a necessity, especially in today's fast-paced world.”

The most common queries he receives are about how to sleep better, why they feel tired even after enough rest, how to manage stress without burning out, or even basic questions like how to feel happier and smile more. “That question says a lot about the times we live in,” he adds thoughtfully.

Dr Vinay Menon | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The biggest challenge he notices in wellness today is that people have accepted tiredness as normal. “Being constantly busy has become a badge of honour. But the body and mind don't work that way. Rest, balance, and connection are not optional — they are essential,” he adds.

Three habits to leave behind in 2025

Normalising exhaustion as a marker of success: In elite sport, fatigue is treated as a risk factor, not a virtue. The same applies to everyday life.

A reactive approach to health: Waiting for symptoms before acting is outdated. The future of wellness lies in early awareness and prevention.

Unstructured, screen-driven routines that disrupt sleep: Poor digital habits quietly undermine recovery, focus, and long-term health. Three habits to adopt in 2026

Protecting sleep as a performance asset: In high-performance environments, sleep is non-negotiable. It should be treated the same way in daily life.

Using health data to guide early decisions: Tracking sleep, stress, and recovery allows timely intervention before issues escalate.

Building daily recovery into routine: Simple practices such as breathwork, movement, and mental decompression are essential for sustained performance.

Sports and preventive health dietician, and founder-partner Art of Eating

A poor eater becomes a nutritionist. Oh, the irony. But that is the story of Shiny Surendran. “Growing up, I never used to eat veggies. As a result, I fell sick a lot. My mother used to say, ‘if you don't want to fall sick, and attend school then you must eat well'. I loved studying. So, that's when the turnaround happened,” says Chennai-based Shiny who has been a nutritionist for 26 years and was among the first Indians to be certified with a Graduate Diploma in Sports Nutrition by the International Olympic Committee.

Shiny Surendran | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Shiny wanted to do something for the community, and nutrition, she says, made sense. A firm believer in you are what you eat, Shiny says it gives her great joy when she sees her clients reverse certain disorders by eating right or are asked by their doctors to reduce certain medication.

“When I started out in 1996, sports nutrition as a specialisation hardly existed. I attended Dr Kannan Pugazhendi's lecture. Kannan sir asked me to focus on this area and I did,” says Shiny who has worked with cricketer Washington Sundar, former table tennis player Sharath Kamal, and actor Sivakarthikeyan among others.

Shiny with Washington Sundar | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Eat right, not less is what Shiny suggests. You can't have rigid rules, she says. “There has to be fun food so people don't feel deprived. If my client wants to eat biryani, then I ask them to eat more pieces, or if they want pizza, they can have a home-cooked one loaded with veggies and chicken... We have to make tweaks,” explains Shiny. The team goes through the menu of whichever restaurant its client is going to, and suggests healthy options.

Three habits to leave behind in 2025

Short cuts don't work: Have you given 100% to what your fitness trainer or nutritionist said, before jumping to GLP?

Don't binge. Work on habits. If you are used to watching television and sitting with a box of snacks, work on that. Try to not take the elevator and instead climb stairs.

All or nothing approach: You may be doing everything right but then end up eating two plates of biryani or high calorie food. Avoid a very extreme mindset or approach to nutrition.

Three habits to adopt in 2026

Limit screen time. This affects sleep.

The minimum effective dose: People think after one hour of walking or gymming, it's ok to sit throughout the day. Instead, walk after lunch etc. Every one or two hours get up for 10 minutes rather than not doing anything for 23 hours.

Include protein and fibre in each meal. Also, eating local works and is sustainable.

Finance content creator

Bengaluru-based Sharan Hegde, one of the most popular financial content creators does not come from a finance background. He studied Mechanical Engineering but was always good with finance. So, it is no surprise that his Instagram handle Finance with Sharan now has 2.8 million followers, including 15 to 65-year-olds. “They are here to take help,” says Sharan, adding that the most common questions he gets are about what stock and mutual funds to buy or how does one become a crorepati quickly.

Sharan Hegde presenting his book to MS Dhoni | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Sharan became a full-time financial advisor in 2021. His calling was to break down complicated boring finance jargon and make it fun for someone not interested in the subject. “I started learning when I was 18 and I have been improving knowledge and learning from people who are smarter than me. Finance is multi-dimensional,” he says. “When we are small it's about addition subtraction. When we grow older it translates to how do you make money grow, insurance, credit card etc. That's a learning process that comes when you are obsessed with how money moves,” he says.

Sharan Hegde | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

There is a lot of misconception surrounding the world of finance: people think loans are bad, credit card is bad, all insurance products are good. Sharan aims to bring clarity to his viewers. What he enjoys the most is “bringing new perspectives to an audience about new investment products and hidden strategies and tactics and seeing the wow factor in their eyes”.

Three things to leave behind in 2025

No cost EMI for depreciating assets.

Loans for one-time things like vacation, marriage etc.

Invest and forget: Stop doing that, instead actively manage your assets.

Three things to adopt in 2026

Plan expenses using credit cards.

Build a second source of income: Get a commercial rental property, monetise your knowledge on social media...

Don't just stick to India, learn how to invest money outside the country.

Published - December 26, 2025 07:32 pm IST

The Hindu Weekend / Wellbeing / sport / fashion / nutrition and diet

Source: TheHindu
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