"I bought sports equipment. At least it won’t turn into a clothes hanger like the treadmill."
Let’s be honest — every January the gyms are full of good intentions… and by mid-February a lot of those shiny new treadmills are quietly serving as very expensive coat racks. Stats show around 50% of new gym members drop off within the first six months, and many memberships just sit unused. Classic January story.
But hey — some things do stick around. Like that vertical chessboard hanging on the wall. It doesn’t need motivation mondays, it doesn’t take up floor space, and it looks pretty good doing nothing but being there. Ready whenever you are. Morning coffee + quick puzzle? Why not.
Our little 2026 resolution
- Write more about chess — openings, endgames, funny blunders, the good stuff.
- Share more puzzles, training ideas, and ways to get better (slowly, no pressure).
- Keep enjoying the fact that these boards are nice to look at — even when you're not moving a piece.
Note: If you want to dive deeper into the science behind my "quality over quantity" approach, I’ve written a separate guide on avoiding the common traps of modern chess study. You can find it here: Chess Training Myth: 1000 Reps vs. Deep Work. It covers the specific methods I’m using to keep these resolutions.
Happy New Year 2026!
Wishing you a year full of small wins — on the board, in life, and definitely without any abandoned fitness equipment guilt. See you in the new posts… and probably tomorrow morning with coffee and a chess position or two. ♟️🥂