This is your sign to rethink New Year's resolutions

Every January 1, our social feed floods with "New Year, new me" declarations—I will work out every day! I will give up coffee! And suddenly, gym memberships spike. Everyone starts waking up at 5 a.m., celery smoothies in hand, sprinting to spin class, and following a meticulous 10-step morning ritual that would make Patrick Bateman proud.

Year after year, we all seem to agree—once again—that this is the year we finally get it together.

But all too often, by mid-February, routines start to slip, workouts turn occasional, once-ambitious resolutions vanish into thin air, and you’re left wondering, why did I ever want to give up my morning latte again?

Why New Year’s resolutions so often fail

Baby, it's not you, and New Year’s resolutions themselves aren't the problem either. Self-improvement matters, and the new year offers a chance to reset, to grow, explore, and move closer to the best version of yourself.

The potential is intoxicating; the possibilities feel limitless—and they are.

The problem comes when resolutions are treated like magic spells. They’re either impossibly sweeping—I’ll never make another mistake at work—or vague—I’ll get fit! or I’ll get that promotion this year! Without a clear, realistic plan, these goals are practically doomed from the start.

That’s why this year, I'd like to invite you to reconsider your approach to New Year’s resolutions.

How to finally make New Year’s resolutions stick

Check in with yourself before setting goals

Before you set any goal, pause and take stock. Not of who you think you should be, but of who you are right now.

Ask yourself:

• What brings me joy?

• What makes me feel energized?

• What would I like to invite more of into my life?

• What would I like to release? What are some habits, expectations, or patterns that no longer serve me?

Once you can answer these questions, you’ve identified your intention: the why behind the change. The next step is figuring out the how.

Focus on one area at a time

Trying to overhaul your entire life at once is a fast track to burnout.

• Pick one focus area: health, career, relationships, or personal growth.

• Example: Instead of “get fit, eat better, save money, and quit social media,” focus first on fitness habits. Once that feels routine, layer in another area.

Focus allows your energy to build real momentum instead of spreading yourself too thin.

Break it into tiny, repeatable habits

Instead of setting yourself up for failure with an all-or-nothing resolution, focus on small, intentional, and manageable changes. Ask yourself: What is one small thing I can do consistently? Make it tangible, specific, and realistic.

For example:

• "I will work out every single day" becomes “I'll do a 15-minute bodyweight workout every morning," or "I'll do two gym sessions per week plus one weekend hike."

• “I’ll cut out sugar entirely” becomes “I’ll enjoy sweets mindfully, limiting treats to a few times a week, or only after meals.”

You can also anchor new habits to routines you already do, which makes them easier to maintain: "I'll do 5 push-ups, 10 squats, or 20 jumping jacks every time I make coffee."

Tiny shifts in your daily habits and mindset are far more likely to create lasting transformation than dramatic overhauls that fizzle out by February.

Stay consistent

Consistency always wins over intensity. Think of your New Year’s resolution like a garden. You don’t plant an entire orchard in a single day—you plant seeds, water them regularly, and trust the process. Personal growth works the same way. Small, deliberate actions, repeated over time, are what blossom into meaningful, lasting change.

When approached this way, your New Year’s resolution becomes less of a pressure-filled promise and more of a steady compass—guiding your choices, reinforcing your values, and supporting your growth one day at a time.

Track progress and celebrate wins

This step is key; you can’t improve what you don’t measure. Tracking your progress makes growth visible, and celebrating even small wins builds momentum, confidence, and a sense of achievement that keeps you going.

You don’t need anything fancy to track your progress. A simple journal or calendar works well. Just jot down the workouts you completed, the days you meditated, or the money you managed to save each month.

If you prefer digital tools, a habit-tracking app or even a notes app can make logging wins quick and easy.

Some people find motivation in the simplest method of all—a checklist on the fridge, which works just fine as well.

And don't forget to celebrate every win along the way! The walk you didn’t feel like taking but went on anyway, the boundary you finally held, or the habit you returned to after skipping a week. Progress, after all, is still progress.

Build flexibility into your plan

Life happens. Sometimes your friends invite you out for a last-minute dinner, and you have to skip the gym. Sometimes you’re sick, or some days you just don’t feel up to it. And that’s okay—what matters is getting back up and keep going the next day.

Your resolution should adapt, not punish.

Building flexibility into your plan lets you stay consistent without spiralling into guilt or feeling like you’ve “failed.”

Remember, missing a day doesn’t erase all your progress. Every small step you’ve already taken still counts, and every time you return to your habits, you’re reinforcing the change you want to see.

Allow imperfection

Instead of seeing these moments as failure, try reframing them as feedback: a chance to learn, reset, and adjust. Let your resolutions bend and adapt to your life, rather than punishing yourself for not being perfect.

Healing and rest are powerful goals

Sometimes, the most transformative thing you can do is simply show up for yourself. If last year was challenging, your New Year’s resolution might be as simple as prioritizing rest, healing, and self-care. And that is more than enough.

Every morning you choose to pause, breathe, or nurture your well-being is a victory. Each small act of self-care builds resilience, restores energy, and lays the foundation for future growth. Healing and growth are both valid goals, and they honour the person you already are.

Your New Year’s resolution can be:

• To get enough sleep each night

• To check in with your mental health weekly

• To take five minutes to breathe and reflect daily

  
  

These goals might seem small, but they are foundational. They prepare you for the bigger changes you’ll make in the future.

You don’t need a total life overhaul to move forward; you need something you can return to tomorrow.

Start small, think big

Starting small doesn’t mean thinking small. Your New Year’s resolution can still be ambitious—life-changing, even—but the path to getting there has to be realistic and grounded to succeed. The goal is to create a plan you can actually live with on a Monday when you’re tired, busy, and mildly annoyed with everything.

A new perspective on New Year’s resolutions

This year, let your New Year’s resolution be about kindness—to yourself, your time, and your life. Let it reflect your reality, not a fantasy of who you think you should be.

Every small step, every repeated action, is a victory. Every morning you choose to move forward, to breathe, to try again, counts. Your New Year’s resolution doesn’t have to be dramatic to be transformative. In fact, subtle, steady change is often the most revolutionary.

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Growth doesn’t happen alone. If you’re looking for a space to learn, connect, and grow alongside others, we’re launching Odihi Community Space on February 1—a free community built around shared learning, connection, and collective growth.

We’re also hosting a self-defence class on February 25, helping you feel more confident, grounded, and empowered in your body.

Sign up, swing by, and make some friends! This could be the first step of many. ✨