Did you know that 80% of people who make resolutions fail to stick to them in the long run? So instead of encouraging you to make resolutions that are likely to fail, why not simply try adopting a few good gestures in the new year? Who knows—they might just turn into long-term habits!
Stop comparing yourselfArrêter de se comparer
Recently, I was doing a session on the Kilterboard with some young climbers. One of them, after working on several problems that were far too hard for me, casually flashed a V12. If I ever (ever!) manage to climb V12 one day, I’ll be very happy. I often repeat a little saying whose origin I don’t know, maybe Confucius? It goes something like this: your project is someone else’s warm-up. Some people are incredibly gifted at climbing; others discover the sport later in life. What matters most is how you are progressing. And progress is highly individual.
At the end of the day, there are reasons why you enjoy climbing, whether it’s the type of movement, the problem-solving aspect, or the athletic challenge. So whether it’s what you see on Instagram or the person at the gym who just flashed your project, keep your own evolution as a climber in mind. Don’t compare yourself to Adam Ondra or Janja Garnbret, and most importantly, keep having fun while you climb.
Learn new movementsApprendre de nouveaux mouvements
You’ve probably seen that video where a climber executes a completely wild cross move (the famous “rose move”) and wondered if you could do it. Try it! Exploring new ways to move or to position your body in space is both fun and beneficial, even if only to stimulate your brain’s plasticity. Another great way to move differently is to do more structured drills. For example, the sloth and the monkey. Pick a boulder you do regularly and that feels easy for you. Climb it while deliberately moving very slowly. Suddenly, you have to manage tension differently, and it becomes more demanding. Then do the same boulder again, this time using explosive movements and not worrying too much about foot placement. Once again, a completely different kind of effort! This shows how different movement approaches can lead to very different results.
Avoid injuries
If you’ve been injured recently, you’ve probably said the phrase “if only I had…”: if only I had known, if only I had listened to my body, if only I hadn’t tried that last problem. For 2026, one thing we can wish for is fewer injuries.
How do we do that? Not leaving the climbing gym completely exhausted is a good start. High levels of fatigue can lead to injuries. Warming up properly (we say it all the time, right?) is also a great way to make sure your body is ready for the effort. And just like with nutrition, variety matters in climbing: if you only “eat” crimps, you’re likely to get indigestion, aka an injury.
Give yourself timeSe donner du temps
Gaining strength, becoming a better climber, or progressing at anything takes longer than watching an Instagram reel. It takes a few weeks to start feeling stronger, a few months to see significant changes, and about six months to build a solid foundation. In 2026, don’t chase quick gains, instead aim for a longer, more realistic horizon.
That means being realistic and setting achievable goals and expectations. Whatever you want to accomplish, make sure you enjoy what you’re doing to get there (training, for example), because otherwise it’s going to feel very long. In short: enjoy the process. Not sure where to start? Consult a coach!
Encourage other climbersEncourager les autres grimpeurs
Whether you’re a V16 climber or a V3 climber, we’re all fighting the same enemy: gravity. And whether you’re a professional or a beginner, one thing is universal, encouragement feels good. It can even help you send your project. Science tells us that people can put in more effort when they’re encouraged!