No matter what’s been going on in your life the past couple of years, it’s probably felt like a lot. Managing work, home, family and finances leaves little room for personal time and personal growth, which is ironic for a Mainer, since we are supposed to be living life the way it should be. This is the most beautiful state in the country with talented, fascinating people as neighbors, who are always creating great things to do, see and eat.
In 2026, find some balance. Whether these are reminders of what you already love or new suggestions to get yourself out there more, here are six things you can do that will help you emerge from the drudgery and live your best Maine life in the coming 52 weeks and beyond.
No need to join a gym to get healthier
In Maine, getting over 5,000 steps a day and eating a well-rounded meal is a piece of cake. If you want to get fit without the disinfectant or too-loud music, sometimes you just have to walk out your front door. Maine Land Trusts have preserved over 3,450 miles of trails across almost 3 million acres. Find your local land trust here. Want to level up? The Maine Outdoor Adventure Club (MOAC) is a volunteer club for all ages and levels and offers hiking, biking, walking, rafting and more.
Eating more fruits and vegetables is a statistical imperative in Maine, where there are more organic farms per capita than California. You can also improve your diet in a way that improves the state’s economy. The Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets counts around 115 summer markets and 35 winter markets, many of which take SNAP/EBT. Find out if you live by one of our six food co-ops or look closer at the labels at larger chains, some of which have local buying commitments.
Learn serious new things
Want to start a new line of work or learn a valuable skill without the commitment of an Associate’s Degree? Maine’s Community Colleges offer over 200 Adult Short-term Workforce Training programs to help people of all ages develop the skills for foundational jobs. Thanks to grant funding, many of the 200-plus courses for these critical roles are low cost or free. Become a medical coder, EMT or an arboriculturalist; learn welding, surveying or phlebotomy.
If you’re more of a student of life than the academy, there are over 60, low-cost adult education programs in the state, which have enrichment courses that include arts and crafts, compass navigation, dance and fitness. It’s a great way to meet new people, as well.
Bonus finance lesson: If you have student loans, you can get a special tax credit in Maine. The State’s Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) allows Maine residents to file for up to $2,500 in tax credits a year for student loan payments, no matter where they got their degree on Earth, as long as it was accredited. You can also backfile and get up to $25,000 over your lifetime, and the earned income minimum is just $11,934. Learn more here.
See big city performances in small town venues
Couch potatoes and wallflowers, do you want to make a change? Get thee to the theater—or a concert or an art museum. Just get out there! Of course national touring acts come through, but Maine grange halls, arts nonprofits, independent theaters and venues of all types have performances going on literally every day and night, and we all know there’s nothing like discovering a local talent.
Meanwhile, the state’s five equity theaters bring professional actors from Broadway and Hollywood to perform live on local stages, sometimes with your neighbors, who you can then see in incredibly good community theater shows all over. If you are not entertained in Maine, that’s a “you” problem.
Plan the best state-cation
Mainers never leave the state if we can help it. While we love our camps, secret beaches and well-worn trails, if you’re ready to mix up your vacation or long weekend trips, check out the northern or easternmost parts of the state and learn why the four indigenous tribes in the area have long known Maine as “Dawnland.” Aroostook and Washington Counties are home to the purest forms of the state’s rocky coasts and dense forests. Once you’ve spent a few nights under the stars or a roadside motel and gathered at least 200 black fly bites, you are ready to be a “real” Mainer.
Love winter
This one is for people who need to turn their frown upside down between November and March. Of course, you can try to get into a winter sport, spend more time at the bar, find an axe-throwing pit, perhaps invest in a SAD lamp, but have you ever bundled up and stood on the beach or lakeside to simply watch the snow fall over the water? Winter hits different when you can smell pine trees and salty air and hear nothing but nature. Take a moment to really love where you live. It’s almost as good as hitting the Maine border over the Piscataqua River Bridge.
Work a great job with great people
If your current job is not the right fit, this is the year to make a change—and you can have fun doing it. “Networking” might induce dread, but it’s done a little differently in our corner, where the business community is friendly, supportive and looking to make life better. Find what’s going on in your neighborhood or in your sector through Live + Work in Maine events, your local Chamber of Commerce, or other professional groups. (If you’ve already got that resume brushed up, first: congratulations, you win the year already! And second, you can jump right into the Job Board.)
As you move your way through all four seasons, you might lose your balance again, but whatever you do to live your best life, know that you’re starting it off on the best foot: already living in Maine.
Learn more at liveandworkinmaine.com
