Happy New Year! I can’t believe I’m writing my first post of 2025 already. The Christmas holidays are such a chaotic time of year; going to markets, buying gifts, seeing friends and family, Christmas day, Boxing day and then New Years. Phew. Pretty much as soon as the holidays are over I get this feeling of nostalgia, looking back over the year and planning for the year ahead. Enter- New Years Resolutions!
Unbelievably New Years Resolutions date back almost 4000 years, to the Ancient Babylonians. And although they’ve been around a while we’re actually pretty rubbish at sticking to them! In the US, 44% of New Year Resolutions last only 2 to 3 months. In the UK, 17% give up within the first month! There’s got to be a better way! Here’s five ways how to stick to your New Years Resolutions.
New Year Resolution Ideas
First things first- you need some goals to work towards. Struggling for ideas? I’ve got you covered. Check out these 44 goals for 2025. There’s six categories ranging from personal development to travel and adventure. My challenge to you would be to pick at least one goal from each category.
How to Stick to your New Years Resolutions
It’s easy to make a list but how do you stick to that all year? Good question! Start by looking back on previous years; how good were you at sticking to previous resolutions? I find these four things have revolutionised how successful I’ve been.
1. Be Realistic and Don’t Restrict Yourself
If you’re like me and have struggled in the past with resolutions then maybe this year you should be more realistic with what you can maintain. I try to avoid anything which sounds restrictive. Instead of ‘stop eating takeaways’ try ‘eat less takeaways’.
2. Start Small and Work your Way up
We should give ourselves more credit for being brave enough to set some goals! It’s easy to drift and let a year pass by without knowing what you’ve achieved. A goal is a goal, it doesn’t have to be something huge. It should be something that you feel will better your life, even something as simple as waking up and getting dressed every day.
For Christmas this year I got a sewing machine. I have always wanted to learn how to sew and maybe start a little business. The thought of starting a business, let’s say a bespoke cushion company on Etsy, is quite daunting. Especially since I haven’t used a sewing machine since I was in Year 9 at school, almost 15 years ago (gosh I suddenly feel older!) So we’re starting off small. I simply want to learn a new skill, I want to learn how to use the sewing machine. But who knows where it could lead to?
3. Be Positive and Keep Going
The most crucial part of success is mindset. It’s important to remind yourself why you set yourself these New Years resolutions and keep a positive outlook. These goals are to help improve you and your life (hopefully). It’s important to set goals that you feel positive about and don’t set goals you worry about starting!
4. Reflect and Celebrate your Success
Make sure you review your progress every 2 to 3 months. Reflect on how it’s going and whether you’re working towards the goals you’ve set. It’s never too late to start. Even if you’ve let things lapse for a few months, there’s always time to get back on it. Most importantly, remember to celebrate your successes- no matter how big or small!
FINAL THOUGHTS..
As we step into the new year, setting resolutions is a powerful way to embrace change and growth. Whether it’s adopting healthier habits, learning something new, or focusing on self-care, the key to success lies in setting realistic goals, keeping positive and persevering. Break larger ambitions into smaller, achievable steps, and celebrate each milestone along the way. With determination and patience, your resolutions can become lasting habits, setting the tone for a fulfilling year ahead.
Good luck with your goal setting for 2025 and Happy New Year!
