My Word for 2026

We’ve all been there… January 1st, we’re all stoked to hit the year hard where we’re chasing motivation, new goals, and new routines. But this year I wanted to do things a little different. Instead of the standard “New Years Resolution,” I wanted to think about a word as my North Star and that for me is…

Focus.

Why Focus Matters More Than Motivation

Motivation comes and goes. Some days you wake up energized, other days you don’t where focus is different. Focus is what keeps you moving forward when motivation fades. I can relate to this heavily as a runner where most days you don’t feel like doing it at all. Over the last year, I’ve learned that scattered energy slows progress more than lack of effort ever could. When attention is divided, even good ideas struggle to gain traction. Focus creates consistency and it allows you to make meaningful progress even on ordinary days. For me, 2026 isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing the right things with intention.

Focus Is Subtraction

Most people think focus comes from adding better habits or systems. In reality, focus often comes from removing what doesn’t matter. One of the biggest changes I’ve made is being more intentional with social media. Scrolling feels harmless, but it fragments attention in ways that are hard to notice in the moment. Reducing that noise has created more mental space and I’m doing this with an app called Opal. It shuts down social media starting at 8 pm every night and doesn’t turn it back on until noon the next day. This is on top of my no social media on Saturdays and for me, I just need that disconnect from that stimulation.

Focus has required saying no to distractions, unnecessary commitments, and environments that pull energy in too many directions. Every no creates room for a better yes.

Protecting Energy and Attention

Focus is not just about time but energy. Where you spend your attention shapes how you think, how you feel, and how you show up. I’ve become more selective about conversations, environments, and inputs. Not because I’m avoiding challenge, but because I’m protecting the frequency at which I vibrate at. When energy is scattered, decisions get rushed but when attention is protected, judgment improves. This has become especially important as HUMN moves into a critical build phase. The margin for error narrows, and focus becomes a responsibility, not a preference.

Energy is REAL.

What Focus Looks Like While Building HUMN

2026 is the year HUMN becomes physical. That means more decisions, more moving parts, and more external noise. Focus is what will allow me to sequence decisions rather than react to them. It means patience where impatience feels tempting. It means depth over speed. It means building something durable instead of chasing momentum for its own sake. Focus is how I protect both the business and myself.

I always go back to an old photo I posted on Instagram of a cartoon version of me playing multiple games of chess and that is so real. I can’t play those games strategically if my brain is all over the place. “100s of decisions everyday” another executive told me a few months back.

Final Thoughts

Focus is the word I’m carrying into 2026 because it protects what matters most. My energy, health, and relationships. The long term vision behind HUMN. As we move into a new year, I’d encourage you to choose a word that grounds you. One that reflects what you need more of, not what sounds impressive.

If you do, send me a DM on Instagram and tell me what your word is for 2026. I’d genuinely love to hear it.

Let’s make 2026 the best one yet!
-Omar