Monday Morning Musings

From Disney to drinking and the moments that matter – Monday 26th Jan 2026.

Happy Monday everyone.

With this being the first blog of 2026, it felt important to pause before the year fully takes hold. These are a few early reflections, shared in the hope they provide a little clarity, curiosity, and direction for the year ahead.

What I‘ve LOVED

For my first blog of 2026, the standout TV moment over Christmas was probably not what you would expect.

Out of pure professional curiosity, I signed up to Disney Plus with ads. Old habits die hard. After years in advertising, I wanted to see how the ad experience had evolved and, credit where it is due, it is one of the best I have come across on any streaming platform. Short ad pods, no repetition, contextually relevant spots and none of the pointless “we’ll be right back” filler. Well done Disney!

One quiet afternoon over the holidays, that curiosity took an unexpected turn. I ended up sitting down with my daughter and watching Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.

Like many families, we had tried, and failed, to get tickets. Unless I was prepared to spend eye watering sums that simply were not an option, it was a non starter. So I watched the documentary partly to see what all the fuss was about.

It completely blew me away. And if I am honest, I was gutted I had not tried harder.

Yes, the scale, energy and sheer spectacle of the tour are extraordinary. But what really stayed with me was not the razzmatazz. It was the people.

What struck me most was how Taylor built and looked after her team. The backing dancers all had their own stories. They did not fit the predictable mould you might expect. Instead, they felt like a reflection of her fans and the people in the audience. Inclusive, human, real.

Without giving too much away, the biggest takeaway for me was how clearly Taylor understands that if you genuinely look after your support crew, everything else lifts. The tour becomes better, more joyful, more successful. And judging by the reaction, it worked.

There are so many moments where she creates space for others to shine, listens properly, recognises effort and shares the rewards. The success is not framed as hers alone. It is collective.

I have always been a big advocate of looking after your team. Watching this just reinforced it. Whether you are leading a global tour, a business, or a small team under pressure, the principle is the same.

Look after your people, and they will help you build something far bigger than you ever could on your own.

We could all learn to be a bit more Taylor.

What I’ve LEARNED

As my kids grow older, the conversations at home have quietly shifted. We have moved on from subjects at school to careers, choices, transitions and the big, slightly uncomfortable question of what comes next.

Over the Christmas break, while many students were enjoying some well earned downtime, I had the chance to speak to a few of my kids’ friends and their parents. What became clear very quickly was how many of them genuinely do not know what they want to do and how much pressure they feel to have an answer ready.

I am a Generation X kid, and growing up, that question always felt like one you were expected to answer confidently. What are you going to do? What do you want to be? Back then, the world felt simpler. No internet, no mobile phones, no social media constantly feeding comparison and expectation. Was life easier? I am not sure. Just very different.

Today’s world is far noisier. Students are surrounded by influencers showcasing perfect lives, overnight success stories and very narrow definitions of achievement. No wonder so many feel confused, overwhelmed and unsure what step to take next. I completely get it. It is daunting.

Every year I help out at my kids’ school with interview practice for pre college students and career sessions for sixth formers. So I know this is not an isolated issue. It is something students and parents everywhere are trying to navigate together, often without a clear map.

So what is the answer?

For me personally, I want to continue to offer advice to any students who are open to it. But what I learned most is that it is not necessarily about the advice itself. It is about being someone who listens, who hears their thoughts and concerns in a non judgemental way. This is where my executive coaching instinct kicks in. Asking the right questions and truly listening makes the difference, and in turn makes any advice far more relevant and relatable.

Sometimes the most helpful thing we can offer is not an answer, but attention.


What I’ve LIKED

I went into January with fairly modest intentions and cut down the long list of resolutions. The short term goal was simply to cut down on alcohol.

What has surprised me is that I have ended up not drinking at all.

Three weeks in, the difference has been far more noticeable than I expected. I have been sleeping better than I have in years. Deep, uninterrupted sleep. Waking up clear headed, rested and ready to make the most of the day. I feel sharper, healthier and more energised.

Most of you reading this will probably be thinking, well yes, of course. We all know this. And I do too. I have done Dry January before and experienced some of the same benefits. So none of this is new information.

What has really stood out this time is the contrast.

Even having just a few drinks over the Christmas period, nothing excessive, just the usual festive events, resulted in broken sleep. Waking up not quite fully rested, with that slightly fuzzy head that lingers into the morning.

That has been missing entirely these past few weeks. And I have really liked that.

Will I give up alcohol forever? Probably not. That is not my intention. I enjoy a cold beer with friends or a glass of wine over dinner. Those moments matter too.

But this stretch has reminded me how powerful good sleep is. How much it shapes how you feel, how you think and how you show up in the day.

And for now, waking up clear headed and properly rested is something I am not in a rush to give up.

Final thought:

Here is a song to kick start your week:

If you would like to read the latest Monday Morning Musings then subscribe here:

Leave a comment

Nik Dewar
, , , , , , , , , , ,

Leave a comment