Happy New Year! To ring in 2026, we’ve crafted a special newsletter that will hopefully get you prepared for and excited about the year ahead. And before you spend the morning drawing up a resolutions list, consider commencing a search for a renewed purpose in life instead — expert tips on that below.
From black-eyed peas to lucky lentils, learn about different New Year’s food traditions around the world
Health
Tips for Finding or Renewing Your Sense of Purpose in the New Year
MirageC—Moment/Getty Images
Better sleep. Protection against anxiety and depression. Lower risks of heart disease and dementia. A longer life. According to a wealth of research in the field of behavioral medicine, these are just some of the well-being boosts associated with having a sense of purpose. Are you in possession of this powerful elixir for living well? And if not, are you aware of how to procure it? Contrary to what many people believe, purpose isn’t necessarily ingrained in us at birth, and discovering it isn’t always like spotting a shining light from on high. But there are ways to cultivate a sense of purpose, and there’s no time like the present to start your journey. “I think the new year gives us a chance to say, ‘Well, what part of my life am I not living? Am I not fulfilling a value that I hold very dear? Am I not living out something that I know I’m really good at, but I’m not sharing that gift with the world? Am I not doing something for my life that calls me emotionally and intellectually?’” Suzy Welch, director of the NYU Stern Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing, tells Nice News, adding: “It takes work to figure out your purpose. This is the most important work we’ll do.” We spoke to Welch and two medical experts about what it means to have a sense of purpose, how it affects our health, and how to go about finding or rediscovering yours — get their five tips.
Together With Simple
The Powerhouse App Behind Millions of Success Stories
If you’re dreading the “new year reset” — the pressure, extreme diets, and the all-or-nothing mindset — don’t worry, there’s a better way. Simple Life is a clinically proven wellness tool that makes you feel good in your health journey and provides lasting results. The award-winning app has helped users lose weight without restrictive dieting or unsustainable routines. You take a short quiz, and Simple builds a nutrition and fitness plan personalized to your unique needs. The app has it all: HIIT, pilates, yoga, or even tai chi. It even keeps you accountable with Blinky, a furry digital friend (like a Tamagotchi, but for wellness). It’s simple, science-backed, and effective, so you can enter 2026 with real tools that help you become your best self.
Inside the Unique Traditions of Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year’s Celebration
Jane Barlow—PA Images/Getty Images
Scotland knows how to ring in the new year — and not just because it’s where Robert Burns wrote “Auld Lang Syne.” The country celebrates through a longstanding custom called Hogmanay, which in modern times typically involves three or four days of fireworks, street parties, and general merrymaking. Hogmanay festivities likely date back to the 8th or 9th century, thought to have been brought to Scotland by invading Vikings, but were ramped up after the Protestant Reformation in the late 1500s. The origins of the term itself are up for debate: Some believe it comes from the old French word “hoginane,” meaning “gala day,” while others think it has Gaelic, Anglo-Saxon, or Scandinavian roots. Hogmanay is associated with several specific traditions, most famously “first footing,” which stipulates that a tall, dark-haired man should be the first person to enter one’s home on New Year’s Day. And that person should come bearing symbolic gifts — specifically coal, black bun, whiskey, and salt. Other rituals include the “redding of the house,” a thorough cleaning to banish the past year’s bad luck, as well as settling all of one’s debts before the 31st is over. And at midnight, revelers join hands in a circle and sing a rousing rendition of “Auld Lang Syne,” of course. Check out more interesting facts about the holiday.
Culture
“Star Trek” Float Set to Be a Standout at Today’s Rose Parade
Allen J. Schaben—Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
As for American New Year’s celebrations, today’s nationally televised Rose Parade is about as iconic as they come. A Jan. 1 staple in Pasadena, California, since 1890, the mileslong parade boasts marching bands, equestrian groups, and flower-covered floats. One 2026 entry that’s garnering excitement is the elaborate Star Trek float, crafted in honor of the franchise’s 60th anniversary and the upcoming series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, per a news release. Representing “values of hope, inclusivity, exploration, and unity,” the float features the U.S.S. Enterprise starship towering above an array of planets, as well as interactive teleportation machines and consoles from onboard the ship (you can see a rendering of what it’ll look like). Front and center is the Enterprise’s famous bridge, where cast members from different iterations of Star Trek will be stationed during the parade. That includes George Takei, who played Mr. Sulu in the original TV show, as well as Strange New Worlds’ Rebecca Romijn and comedian Tig Notaro, who has a role in the upcoming spin-off. Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to attend the event (last year saw a record 800,000), which was put together with the help of nearly 1,000 volunteers. Learn how to tune in to the parade, starting at 11 a.m. ET, and scroll through a history of the spectacle in photos that date all the way back to 1890.
In Other News
Pinterest predicted which “visual trends” will dominate in 2026 based on user searches (read more)
New train routes launching this year include a luxe journey from Paris to the Amalfi coast (read more)
Minimum wage is up in 19 states as of today, and four more will institute increases later in the year (read more)
Texas’ Parks and Wildlife Department is giving some residents a sneak peek at its newest state park (read more)
Quarters, dimes, and nickels minted in 2026 will bear special designs celebrating America’s semiquincentennial (read more)
Inspiring Story
Rethinking resolutions
The start of 2025 was tough for Brittany Anas — she and her husband were hit by a drunk driver while heading home from a New Year’s celebration. That terrifying experience (and the recovery process that followed) led her to an empowering realization: “As my body and mind healed, I learned something I’d never fully believed before: Rest is actually productive.” Read more about Anas’ perspective shift on New Year’s resolutions.
Photo of the Day
Tayfun Coskun—Anadolu/Getty Images
Some of us are starting this morning with a hot cup of coffee, perhaps paired with the newspaper or a good book. Others are plunging into freezing cold water. Polar plunges are a popular New Year’s Day activity across the country — the tradition is believed to have started with the L Street Brownies, a cold-water swimming group in Boston dating back to 1902. Today, such events, which often also serve as fundraisers, can be found coast to coast (the photo above is from a 2025 San Francisco plunge). Learn the science behind taking a dip in frigid waters.
A Recovery Routine That Really Works, Thanks to Quince
If you’re planning on ramping up your exercise routine this year, you’re also going to want a recovery routine in place. And that’s never been easier, thanks to Quince’s offerings. Normatec 3 Legs by Hyperice is a compression system that boosts circulation, eases soreness, and leaves you feeling refreshed fast. Through Jan. 11, Nice News readers can get the science-backed treatment for 11% off, plus $50 in Quince credit.
