This article is created by Girlboss and Dreamers & Doers.
Relationships rarely announce when they need more attention. While life would be a lot easier if they did, we have to lean on other signals as reminders that our personal connections deserve some extra TLC. A fresh calendar creates space to look more closely at how we’re showing up for the people around us.
Here, women navigating full, demanding lives share the relationship priorities guiding them into the year ahead. These intentions center on connection that feels mutual, grounded, and real. Taken together, they offer a thoughtful reminder that tending to relationships can quietly reshape other parts of life, too.
Fostering More Friendships
“I want to be more engaged in friends' lives and actively rebuild friendships, especially after moving back to my home state. I envision myself meeting new people and reconnecting with former contacts. Each month, I’ll check my credit card statement to see how many times I went to coffee, forcing me to keep tabs on whether I stuck to my connection goal.” — Tameka Anderson, Consultant of Tameka Anderson LLC
“After an extended season of leaning heavily on my community for support while caregiving for my husband, I'm excited to pour back into my friendships and build new ones. My goal is to lean into joy and whimsy—such as by hosting quarterly ‘badass breakfasts’ and delivering personalized care packaged—but also to pace myself.”— Jennifer Barrett Fajardo, Owner and Principal of Jennifer Barrett Advising
“I'm committing to at least three intentional friend dates per month—everything from FaceTimes to long weekends away. Between building a business and juggling life, friendships can slip to the bottom of the list, but time with my people always reminds me who I am beyond what I do.” — Liz Morrison, Story Coach and Narrative Navigator of Liz Morrison Strategic Storytelling
Showing Up Intentionally and IRL
“I want to make it easier to build connections and relationships, so on the last Friday of every month in 2026, I’m hosting an open-house cocktail hour for neighbors and friends. There will be no RSVP required; everyone just knows to show up on the last Friday of the month. I’ll never know who's coming, but that low-key, open vibe is what makes it magical!” — Kate Haranis, Founder and Principal of Haranis & Company
“Borrowing aligned audiences has been the most effective way for people to discover my work, and I’m excited to lean more into that next year. One unconventional way I’ll stay accountable is by keeping Instagram off my phone for long stretches so I am not tempted to default to tactics that do not align with how I actually want to grow. It keeps me focused on depth and the conversations, prospects, and partnerships that come from showing up in the right rooms.” — Ciara Siegel, Brand and Marketing Strategist and Founder of CJC
“This past year I focused on saying ‘yes’ to my community, my family and friends, and the experiences life should be about. Going forward, I’m keeping a short list of top priorities for the year so that when two things conflict, I can say ‘yes’ to whatever aligns with the life I’m trying to build.” — Brooke MacLean, CEO of Marketwake
Getting Better Together
“I’m committed to leading every part of my life with an abundance mindset. To stay on track, I’m planning to gather a small circle of friends who are also committed to growth, creating a monthly accountability chat where we check in, celebrate progress, and gently call each other forward.” — Lakeya Cherry, CEO and Founder of Lakeya Cherry LLC
“I'm leaning into authentic visibility, challenging myself to share more of who I am. I'm telling everyone I know about these goals to stay accountable. Now that I've made such a public commitment, I can't play small.” — Cydnee DeToy, Founder and CEO of Cydnee DeToy Coaching
“Every meaningful relationship begins with self-love, so my 2026 resolution is to deepen my relationship by treating my health, inner world, and creativity as a daily devotion rather than an afterthought. Instead of healing privately and alone, I'm looking to stay motivated by receiving support from the people I love to help me uphold the rituals and keep me accountable to the standard of woman I’m becoming.” — Julie Nguyen, Co-Founder of SYS Social
“I’m planning to break up with coffee and build a better way to wake up: lemon water to hydrate, five minutes of heart meditation to center myself, and one minute of energizing breathwork with movement. Sharing this rhythm with my family will help keep me accountable—we protect it together.” — Ariana Friedlander, Founder and Principal of Rosabella Consulting, LLC
All individuals featured in this article are members of Dreamers & Doers, a highly curated community and PR Hype Machine™ amplifying extraordinary women entrepreneurs and leaders through authentic connections, credibility-boosting visibility, and opportunities that accelerate big dreams.
