A New Approach to New Year's Resolutions

23/01/2025

Written by Emily Perkins

The new year offers a chance for reflection and goal-setting, but instead of traditional resolutions driven by pressure, let’s focus on consistent, happiness-oriented actions that can lead to lasting positive change.

January has become a mark of time to implement change. As we step into a fresh calendar year, it's a great opportunity to reflect, reassess, and set goals and resolutions for the year ahead.

Many of us set ‘New Year Resolutions’ such as getting fit, running a marathon, improving time management, going to bed earlier, eating healthier, or practicing mindfulness.

While these are all fantastic goals that come from a place of good intention, it’s easy to get caught in a cycle where motivation spikes, followed by pressure to maintain that momentum, and eventually we get sucked into busy schedules and the goal is left behind. 

Unfortunately, many resolutions fizzle out before mid-year, often because they are driven by pressure and not purpose.

What if we stripped back our goals to the foundational aim – which is to feel good, and be happy. 

After all, the real reason behind most resolutions is the hope that they will bring us greater joy and contentment.

By shifting our perspective and treating our goals as a way of life, through small changes to our daily habits, we can release the pressure of our goals being the ‘be all and end all’ target. 

Choosing to prioritise exercise for mental health benefits - because it makes you feel good – as opposed to  just another thing that you have to fit into your day, is one way that reframing perspective can make a lasting habit.

Another example is treating each day as a new beginning. A fresh start. We don’t have to wait until next Monday, or next January rolls around to continue to foster positive changes. 

Every day is an opportunity to choose actions that can bring contentment. It’s all about consistency, not perfection. Try again tomorrow if today didn’t work out. Just aim for 10% better. 

Let’s switch out traditional resolutions with the simple question: How am I going to show up for myself today?