By Julia Train
As the calendar flips to a new year, many take the opportunity to reflect on the past and set new goals for the future. Whether you’re aiming for personal growth, health improvements or a change in habits, New Year’s resolutions can be an inspiring way to start anew. However, sticking to those resolutions can often be a challenge.
According to U.S. News and World Report, an estimated 80% of people fail with their resolutions, losing their motivation just weeks later in mid-February.
With that being said, here are five resolution ideas, along with five tips to help you stay motivated throughout the year so you can achieve your goals in 2025.
- Commit to physical health.
One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to get healthier, which holds a different meaning for everyone — whether that means losing weight, exercising more or eating better. This resolution not only improves your physical health but can boost your mood, energy levels and mental health.
- Learn a new skill or hobby.
Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn but never had the time or motivation to start? A hobby can give you something to look forward to every day. Some ideas include learning a new language, picking up a musical instrument, crocheting, knitting or cooking.
- Focus on mental health.
When life gets busy, it’s easy to neglect mental health. This year, commit to prioritizing it. Consider journaling, mindfulness meditation and doing activities you enjoy.
- Save more money.
Financial goals are among the most practical and rewarding resolutions. Setting financial goals, like creating an emergency fund, paying off debt or saving for a big purchase, can provide peace of mind and greater security for the future.
- Give back to the community.
If you’re looking to make a positive impact this year, consider adding volunteerism to your resolutions. Whether it’s donating your time, skills or money, giving back can help you foster a deeper sense of purpose and connection.
Five tips for staying motivated throughout the year
Now that you have some meaningful resolutions, here are the five tips to help you stay motivated to the end of the year:
- Break goals into smaller tasks.
Large goals can feel overwhelming. By breaking them into smaller, more manageable tasks, you’ll feel more accomplished as you complete each step.
- Track your progress.
Use a journal, chart or app to monitor your progress. Whether it’s for fitness, finances, habits or a personal project, tracking your progress reminds you how far you’ve come.
- Find an accountability partner.
Usually, if we have someone to answer to, we’re more likely to stick to goals, so share them with a friend, family member or mentor who can help hold you accountable. Regular check-ins with someone you trust can offer encouragement and motivation to keep going even when you feel like giving up.
- Celebrate milestones.
Reward yourself for reaching key milestones along the way. Whether it’s treating yourself to a small indulgence after completing a fitness goal or celebrating a financial milestone, acknowledging your successes makes the journey more enjoyable and keeps you motivated to continue.
- Remember consistency over perfection.
Life can be unpredictable and busy, so be prepared to adjust your goals if needed. If a particular strategy isn’t working, don’t give up — adjust it and move forward. If you fall off track one day, get back the next. The easiest way to stay on top of goals is to adopt this mindset.
Although this article is packed with resolution ideas and tips, it’s also OK to set one resolution — actually, it’s even better to have one primary goal to keep track of, as having too many will probably overwhelm you. The purpose of setting resolutions at the beginning of each year is to better your life, but sometimes life gets busy. Be gentle with yourself!
Happy New Year!
