Now that the new year is well on its way, I would like to share my plans for 2026. What can you look forward to here at NERDSHOCK HQ in 2026?
The Journey Continues
Last year we completed the full Elder Dragon Saga in Guild Wars 2. The adventure is far from over! Next week we’ll be diving into Secrets of the Obscure and continue our journey through Tyria with Basil The Wanderer. A fresh episode will drop every other week starting January 6th, 2026!
My aim is to finish a playthrough of the Secrets of the Obscure, Janthir Wilds and Visions of Eternity expansions this year. For now the focus of the YouTube channel will continue to be Guild Wars 2.
IBD Warrior
I’ve been dealing with chronic disease for the last few years. Before relaunching NERDSHOCK HQ, I focused on recovering, adjusting to living with a stoma and having to take medication daily. Working on NERDSHOCK HQ has truly helped me continue to stick to a routine and get a sense of normalcy. Even though I initially planned on returning to the workforce last year, I opted to work on my health and get fit for a possible surgery. When I started I wasn’t sure if my stoma would become permanent or if a reversal could still happen.
I used CICO with the help of MyFitnessPal and a kitchen scale. I also got myself an Apple Watch SE 2 and walked 8000 steps a day. I lost about 10 kg / 22 lbs over the summer and reached a healthy BMI in 3 months. I also got additional MRI scans and an endoscopy. I’m happy to report my terminal ileum looks healthy without active Crohn’s disease. In November 2025 my medical team gave the greenlight for a stoma reversal surgery. At this time I’m still waiting for the hospital admission date for surgery. I expect the surgery to take place in Q1 2026.
Even if all goes well, it will take a few months to recover from the surgery. If complications pop up and the surgery gets cancelled or goes the other way.. I think I would also need time to recover from the mental blow. To make sure fresh episodes will continue to drop, I have batch recorded the Journey Through Tyria series. With a new release schedule of bi-weekly episodes, Basil will be adventuring till Summer Break.
More right here at NERDSHOCK HQ
In 2026 I want to spend less time on push social media platforms. I know, I know.. YouTube also has a Home tab with a recommended feed, but it isn’t as pushy as Instagram / Threads / X. I really want to spend quality time here at NERDSHOCK HQ. I’ve shared reviews in the past and hope to add more Spark posts, building a hub with a variation of geeky lifestyle related topics.
In summary:
- Guild Wars 2 adventures continue with bi-weekly posts and video’s
- Switching gears to continue to focus on health and surgery
- More awesomeness to be added to NERDSHOCK HQ instead of social media platforms
Let’s make this another awesome year!
Love,
Aleida