If you showed up to Zikoko’s Twitter Space on making the most of 2026 expecting generic New Year’s Pep talks, you’d be in for a pleasant surprise. The space was moderated by professional event host, Peace Echeomuha, who led conversations on what it actually means to make 2026 count with Aramide Balogun, Finance Controller at Microsoft; Wamide Animashaun, a career strategist; and Adeife Adeoye, the founder of Remote WorkHER.
What Does Locking In Actually Mean?
Aramide kicked things off by keeping it brutally honest. How many people are hitting the gym as they promised on January 1st? Locking in isn’t about that week one energy when you’re convinced that this is your six-pack year. It’s about showing up consistently, even when motivation has left the group chat. She emphasised creating systems, routines, and habits that keep you accountable when the new year excitement fades.
Wamide shared insights about choosing consistency over intensity. The math is simple. Would you rather hit the gym ten times in a week, then disappear or show up twice weekly all year? She stressed the importance of alignment and execution, making sure that everything you do connects to your why, instead of just doing what’s trending on your timeline. Wamide also shared that she’s not afraid to hire support and pay for tools that make execution easier for her, because burning out isn’t the badge of honour that many people believe it to be.
Adeife came through with something that everyone needs to paste somewhere they can see it every day: The power of saying no. Locking in means keeping promises to yourself, which means declining things that don’t serve your goals. If you want to lose weight, then you need to stop accepting every food hangout invite. If you want to build your business, stop saying yes to every opportunity that looks shiny but doesn’t align with your vision.
What Habits Are We Leaving in 2025?
The speakers didn’t hold back when discussing what needs to stay relegated to 2025. Aramide reminded the girlies that not everything is suited to them. Stop overcommitting to look productive, stop joining every challenge because it’s trendy. Know your why, understand the current stage of life that you’re in, and focus accordingly. And please, stop waiting to feel ready because even the people you’re looking up to also battle imposter syndrome.
Wamide encouraged everyone to recognise that life really goes beyond just career and work. She told us about two important concepts: arming yourself with the knowledge that options exist, and paying attention to what serves you, what drains you, what environments energise you, and which people genuinely support your growth.
All three speakers emphasised that success in 2026 isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing better. Building routines that support your goals, creating accountability systems, understanding your strengths, logging off when you’re afraid, and showing up regardless. These aren’t just nice ideas. They’re the actual framework that separates people who achieve their goals from those who will still be talking about them in December.
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