Welcome to the season of ambitious lists, color-coded planners, and resolutions that disappear around the same time as your holiday leftovers. We’re not here for it.
We’re here for building sustainable learning goals that feel more than doable—they feel exciting and actually aligned with the version of yourself you want to grow into this year. Setting your 2026 learning goals isn’t about going harder. It’s about getting clearer, staying curious, and creating a structure that makes growth feel attainable (and even fun).
And, by the way, that includes rest. Real rest. Intentional rest. The kind that lets your brain absorb and integrate what you’ve been learning instead of burning out trying to master it overnight.
Start with what actually matters to you
Before you commit to anything, pause. Think about what you want to feel more capable of this year.
Maybe it’s growing your confidence with AI tools. Maybe it’s sharpening a skill that’s been calling your name like coding or UX design. Maybe it’s simply learning just to learn, because a new skill definitely never hurts.
If you’re stuck on what to learn in the new year, ask yourself a few grounding questions:
- What would make your work feel easier or more enjoyable?
- What skills would give you room to grow personally and professionally?
- What sparks your curiosity even when you’re tired?
If you’re not sure where to start, this is where learning how to learn becomes the real unlock. Our Chief Learning Officer, Dr. Jeffrey Bergin, breaks this down in his book Already Smarter, showing how learning habits stick when they match your attention, your energy, and your natural rhythms.
His philosophy mirrors how we’ve taught at GA from day one—less about memorizing skills, more about building the habits and confidence that help learning last. If you want a real, lasting reset for your 2026 goals, Already Smarter is a great place to begin.
Set goals you can actually sustain
Growth doesn’t happen because you force it. It happens when your goals line up with your energy, your time, and your capacity. Think rhythms and routines, not short-lived resolutions.
Supportive ideas to make learning new skills a success:
- Build in recovery days—your brain needs time to process
- Favor short, consistent sessions over heroic efforts
- Track progress with light check-points
- Reduce friction by making learning easy to access
Already Smarter also reinforces something most of us forget. You don’t learn better by trying harder. You learn better when you give your brain breaks, not ultimatums. That’s how you turn your 2026 learning goals into actual habits instead of abandoned notebooks.
Pick a learning style that fits your life
Your goals deserve a path that supports them—not the other way around. Here are a few ways to shape your learning around real life, not idealized January-you.
Short courses for deep skill-building
If your 2026 goals involve structured growth, our flagship short courses and all-new AI courses offer guided, high-impact learning with hands-on practice. In 32–40 hours part-time, you’ll build real projects, earn a digital badge, and walk out with portfolio-ready work.
- Explore our short courses
- Explore our AI courses
If your employer has a learning budget, this is the perfect time to tap into it. We even wrote a template to help you make the ask. Nothing to lose, potentially everything to gain. It’s an easy step that can make your learning goals a lot more doable.
Workshops for fast, focused wins
Workshops are perfect for dipping into a skill without taking on a long commitment. In three to eight hours, you walk away with tangible skills—and a digital badge to prove it.
- Explore our workshops
Free classes & events for zero-commitment exploration
Not sure what skill you want to learn yet? That’s fine.
Our free classes and events are a no-pressure way to explore a topic, test your interest, and get inspired. You might even walk away with new connections or a spark you didn’t expect. They’re free to join, last one or two hours, and are packed full of gems.
Build accountability that feels good, not punishing
Accountability in your learning journey doesn’t have to mean rigid deadlines or an alarm telling you to “grind.” Try:
- A learning buddy to check in with
- A classmate or instructor who becomes a natural mentor
- A weekly or monthly reflection instead of a scoreboard
Look at accountability as support, not surveillance.
Give yourself a break—rest is part of the plan
Some weeks are productive. Some aren’t. That’s not a failure. It’s biology.
Sustainable learning means honoring your mental and physical health. Rest helps you retain more, integrate concepts faster, and keep going when motivation dips.
Your 2026 learning goals can be the start of something big
Big change doesn’t come from intensity. It comes from intention. Read that again.
Whatever your 2026 learning goals look like—small steps, big pivots, or something in between—we’re here to help you move with clarity and confidence. Figure out what works for you, keep showing up, and watch how quickly your skills start doing the heavy lifting.
If you ever need help mapping your next step, we’re right here cheering you on.