Since the beginning of the new year, everyone has been on the familiar chant of new year, new me anthem and definitely old things have passed away.

Resolutions are being written with fresh pens and tenacity, vision boards are flying around, and everybody is a philosopher of planning, all of which usually happens during the first two weeks of January.

This is fine and applaudable, I'm not against it or am I judging it. Growth is good and planning is healthy.

And that is exactly why this article matters and why I think you should read it.

Now, if you are looking for flight prices, hotel reviews, or “Top 10 countries to visit in 2026,” don’t get disappointed yet. I promise you will travel. Just not the way you think or how Instagram sold aesthetics about travelling to you.

Because honestly, the truth is that there are journeys you must take before you book a ticket. And if you skip them, even Paris will feel noisy.

So yes, these are places you should travel to in 2026—just not the ones you were expecting.

The first destination is accountability. Don’t close this tab yet, please just stay with me.

Accountability is not a physical location, but it is a place many people avoid like visa rejection. This year, be accountable.

To yourself and to people around you . Also, to the promises you make casually and forget conveniently.

We often focus on big resolutions — money, success, new routines, glow-ups and ignore the small disciplines that quietly ruin everything when neglected.

Accountability is not about self-punishment; it is about ownership. Of your words and your actions.

Your growth is paramount and you owe yourself that much.

From there, catch a connecting flight to Self-respect.

This journey is long overdue for many people.

Nor allow anybody to see you finish.

Hide yourself small. Your life is not breaking news and not everybody deserves full access to you, your time, your energy, or your emotions.

Leave toxic relationships, environments, and situations with courage. Staying where you are constantly drained is not loyalty; it is self-abandonment. In 2026, let self-respect be louder than your fear of being alone.

Another important stop is your Relationship with God.

Irrespective of your religion, stay close to what you believe in this year. Everyone has the right to belief, and no one should be attacked or mocked for it.

Faith, however you define it, gives structure when life feels uncertain. But let it guide your morality, not excuse bad behavior.

Do what is right, not just what is popular. Spirituality should refine you, not make you rigid.

Then there is the most neglected destination of all: your Relationship with yourself.

This is rarely discussed properly. You cannot give the love you do not have. You cannot pour from an empty cup and expect miracles.

Love yourself unconditionally. Forgive yourself for past mistakes. Mistakes are not death sentences. They are evidence that you tried, learned, and sometimes did not know better.

Growth does not mean pretending you were never wrong; it means refusing to remain ignorant or repeat the same patterns. Be patient with yourself, but do not be passive.

Also somewhere along your journey this year, make sure you have a stopover at Peace.

Yes, peace. Choose it deliberately.

The world is already chaotic — work stress, jumping buses, deadlines, expectations, bills, people’s moods, and the never-ending race for money.

There is noise everywhere, fame is loud and the hustle culture is aggressive. But night will come, and you will be alone with your thoughts, no matter how busy you are. Inner peace is what stays when the distractions go quiet. Protect it fiercely.

Another destination you must visit is Emotional Regulation.

Know when to speak, when to stay quiet, and when to walk away. Learn how to respond, not just react. During conflicts, disagreements, or misunderstandings, don’t always rush to play the victim or seek pity.

Don’t fall for rage bait or emotional traps. Control yourself. Emotional maturity will save you stress, embarrassment, and regret that apologies cannot undo.

And of course, you must travel to Healing.

Yes, we must all go to the land of healing oo.

Heal from your past. Don’t project old wounds onto innocent people. Be mature enough to acknowledge your pain, accept your circumstances, and take responsibility for changing what you can.

Healing does not mean forgetting; it means no longer bleeding on people who did not cut you. It is work, it is uncomfortable, but it is necessary.

These are not destinations for aesthetics or social media engagement. They are places for reflection, for alignment and for becoming better—quietly and intentionally.

So yes, these are places you should definitely travel to and add to your 2026 resolutions. Before some of you arrest me for false advertising.

Because the truth is this: the only way you can truly enjoy any physical travel—the cities, the hotels, the beaches, the adventures—is when the places you go to and the people you meet encounter a healthier, calmer, more self-aware version of you.

Otherwise, no location can save you from yourself.