First off, let me tell you about some things I am definitely NOT letting go of in 2026:
Noticing things.
The world needs noticers. We notice patterns. We notice vibes. We notice when something is off even if we can’t quite explain why yet. Noticing is how art happens. It’s how empathy happens. It’s how you realize the barista looks like they’re having a rough day and you tip a little extra. I will not stop paying attention just because everyone else is scrolling past.
Loving things.
This is important, actually. Loving things (out loud, earnestly, without irony) feels almost rebellious now. But I refuse to be too cool to care. I will continue to love songs too much, shows too deeply, people too loudly. Cynicism is boring.
Award shows.
I just never will. Stop asking me to. I love the speeches. I love the outfits. I love the collective overanalysis of moments that absolutely do not matter and somehow matter a lot. Let me have this.
Eating good food.
IDGAF about the calories. If it’s good, I’m eating it. Life is already hard enough without pretending a dry salad is “worth it.”
Making lists.
It’s the most efficient way to share information, organize thoughts, and feel like you have even a fraction of control over chaos. I will never stop.
Now, what I’m about to say might surprise you (especially when you realize it’s coming from the marketing arm of the company) but here it goes:
In 2026, I’m giving up social media.
Not completely, obviously. Just deleting the apps and limiting my time.
It’s important to the work that EngErotics does, and I’m not pretending it doesn’t serve a function. But the value of this once‑integral space has greatly diminished over the past few years. It used to feel like community… like we were all in the same room, learning from each other, laughing together, sharing resources, building something collective.
Nowadays? It’s mostly fighting and AI bots. The humanity has drained out of it. And honestly? I think I’m going with it.
To keep the list theme going, here are some things I used to love about social media:
Human interaction.
I loved being able to ask how to do something and get real answers from real people. Not SEO‑optimized blog posts or sterile how‑to guides – but lived experience. “I tried this and it worked.” “Here’s what I wish I’d known.” Now, half the time, I don’t even know if my friends are answering me, or if they’re running my question through AI and pasting back something polished and hollow.
Discovery without an agenda.
I used to stumble onto new artists, writers, small businesses, and weird little corners of the internet just because someone genuinely wanted to share them. Now discovery feels transactional. Everything is selling something. Even sincerity has a funnel.
Nuance.
There was a time when you could have an actual conversation: one with context, gray areas, and room to change your mind. Now everything is flattened into takes, hot or otherwise. You’re either right or wrong, good or evil, with zero allowance for growth or complexity.
Feeling seen without performing.
It used to be enough to just exist online. Now everything feels like content. If it’s not optimized, captioned correctly, or strategically vulnerable, it disappears. I don’t want to live in a world where my value is measured by engagement metrics.
Time that felt well spent.
This might be the biggest loss. Social media used to feel connective. Now it mostly feels extractive. I leave it tired, irritable, and strangely emptier than when I arrived.
So yeah. I’m keeping the noticing. I’m keeping the loving. I’m keeping the lists, the food, the award shows… and making space for whatever comes next.
And honestly? That feels like a pretty good trade.
