#SoloMix26

Happy New Year!

In 2025, I was really excited to make things (early versions of games—TTRPG, interactive fiction and even a very basic video game—art, self-development tools, actual play fiction, and even some videos). I want to bring that energy into 2026 but have it be more directed, especially since I’ll be busier with study and will need to be more intentional with by time.

Sounds like I need a… CHALLENGE! 📢✨

So why #SoloMix26?

There are three variations to this challenge to myself (which anyone is welcome to join!).

But before I get into it, shout-out to TheSoloScribe for posting about his own challenge and getting me thinking. ⭐

1. ‘Get in the mix’ and make time to play solo each fortnight.

Why?

Many challenges will ask you to play daily (maybe overwhelming to keep up with) or monthly (maybe not enough to make a habit) or weekly (a good length of time). You know what would be even better though? Play (at least) once fortnightly. After all, there are TWENTY-SIX (😌) fortnights in a year. I think 26 is a Goldilocks kind of amount, in terms of quantity and expectation for consistency.

Of course, I can play more than once a fortnight, and so far I have played every day of 2026! (What? It’s not impressive because it’s only the 2nd of January? 😅 Don’t spoil my fun…)

2. Put things together and make a ‘mix’

Why?

I loved making things last year! I want to do more of that. Putting things together could be putting pen to paper—making art, writing fiction, drawing maps, creating intricate character journals—, mixing sounds—recording character audio journals, creating videos—or whatever else that can hold my attention. These little artefacts will all likely be solo-related, but if inspiration strikes then I wouldn’t begrudge making artefacts relating to other topics or hobbies—I would count those too.

In keeping with the theme of ’26’, I would aim to make 26 artefacts or ‘things’ or ‘mixes’. That seems overwhelming, BUT I want to make little artefacts. I am not striving to make a magnum opus. Nope, silly little no-pressure artefacts are more my style—think doodle, not masterpiece.

(Plus, there was that study done that showed quantity of work led to quality of work… There’s likely more than one, but I am thinking specifically of a study done on photography students at… Stanford? This reference is vis a vis the book Predictably Irrational, so I may be remembering incorrectly.)

Ideally, I would share these creations. I still feel intensely embarrassed about sharing stuff I make (which partly explains why I posted so sporadically), but so far intentional and safe vulnerability has brought joy, so I would like to do more of that.

3. ‘Mix and match’ your challenge

The third variation is to remix the aforementioned challenge guidelines. Make it weekly, double the artefacts to make, commit to playing group TTRPG instead, whatever it is, the most important thing is to feel fully engaged in your own life.

For example, I also have an ongoing challenge to share Actual Plays of 100 different TTRPGs, so I am using this challenge to also help me work on that one. Yay! And I’ll change up how I approach this challenge throughout the year, depending on how I go.

SoloMix26 Rules

1. Play solo at least once a fortnight (or 26 times in 2026).
2. Create 26 little artefacts to memorialise your solo adventures.
3. Make up your own rules.

We only have one life to live (unless science figures something out…), so let’s not let time just pass us by.

This is a call to be intentional with time, not productive.

Meaning + Magic > Hustle.

Mā te wā (Until next time), Pat