More Ways to Set Yourself Up for Success

One month into 2026 and it might already feel like New Year resolutions are just a distant memory. While it may be difficult to stick to those good intentions, we think the secret to making lasting changes is to find solutions that are easy to implement.

Part one of our suggestions for setting yourself up for success this year looked at some of the financial and admin changes you could make. In this article, we have more small steps you could take to make your 2026 more positive.

Look after your health and wellbeing

Get active

Finding an activity you love that gets you moving can be great for your overall health.  Everyday Active Kent allows you to search for suitable activities near you so that you can find something that matches your level of ability and interests. 

Find support to achieve goals

Having support can give you that extra bit of motivation that you need to stick to a plan. There are lots of programmes out there and your GP may be able to give you details of some that can help support health goals. If you want to manage your weight, One You Kent offers a free 12-week weight-management programme (online or face-to-face).  Or if stopping smoking is one of your goals, they also provide free one-to-one coaching and nicotine replacement therapy, helping you to improve your health and reduce weekly costs.  

Book your check-ups

Schedule routine GP reviews and vaccinations (flu/COVID boosters where eligible) that you have been meaning to get around to.  And, if you’re aged 40–74, ask your GP about your free NHS Health Check. Taking some time to prevent issues now can help to reduce costs and complications later on.

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust holds regular Health Check clinics across Kent. To find out where these are and to book an appointment call 0300 1231220. They also offer health check events in supermarkets, high streets, pubs and other community venues. You can find upcoming events on their website and also on the One You Kent Facebook page.

Strengthen your independence

Make your home safer

Kent Fire & Rescue offers free home safety visits, checking smoke alarms and tailoring advice for people with long-term health conditions. Safety improvements can prevent accidents, reduce emergency call-outs, and bring peace of mind.

Build confidence with travel

Getting out and about is often easier and cheaper with a bit of forward planning. This year, take time to explore transport options that work for you. Kent Karrier offers flexible wheelchair accessible dial-a-ride services for residents who have a medical condition that makes travelling on public transport difficult.  Your local council may also offer dial-a-ride services so get in touch with them to see what is available.

If you can use public transport, check eligibility for a disabled person’s bus pass or railcard to reduce travel costs. Planning accessible routes and knowing where support is available can make everyday journeys feel far more manageable.

Use digital tools to your advantage

Technology can be a powerful independence tool.  If it feels daunting to use, community centres or adult education services often provide free digital skills support to help you get comfortable using tools that make daily life easier.  Digital Kent offers various schemes that can help you to use technology and improve your digital skills. They also have a Connectivity Access Scheme that can supply eligible applicants with a SIM card to be able to get online.  Your local library can also be a great starting point since all of Kent’s libraries have free internet access, either using their computers or your own devices, and you can access free computer courses.  Find your local library to learn more. 

Think about what’s next for you

Boost your employment prospects

If you are considering employment and want to explore working, Connect to Work is an employment support programme in Kent and Medway for people facing barriers to work.  The programme aims to help individuals with disabilities, long-term health conditions, or social challenges find and stay in meaningful employment through tailored, practical support. This free programme is open for self-referral.

Get support while you are in work

If you are working or seeking work, you may be able to apply to the Government’s Access to Work scheme for help to fund transport, support workers, equipment and workplace adaptations.  You will have to meet eligibility criteria and there are restrictions on what the scheme will support but full information is available on the website.   Please be aware that there is a long waiting time for this scheme so apply as early as possible if you are eligible and be aware that you are unlikely to get support quickly.

Whether you do just one of these things or decide to tackle multiple areas of your life, we hope these ideas have given you some inspiration of what can be achieved with just a few small steps. If you think you could benefit from some help from Disability Assist, please get in touch with us to discuss how we can support you.

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