5 Powerful Tips for New Year’s Resolutions That Stick
Do you know why you never keep your New Year’s resolutions?
No, it’s not because you are a “lazy, worthless piece of *oops!* who can never do anything properly.”
You don’t stick to your New Year’s resolutions because you:
- Try to change too many things at once (no, you shouldn’t have a LIST of resolutionS, by the way).
- Set unrealistic goals.
- Lack a clear plan.
- Lose motivation over time.
Now, you could look at this list and say, “Oh well, there’s no point in me trying to change or setting New Year’s resolutions then…”
OR you could see these as clues to help you adjust your strategy and try again, better.
Until you get it right.
Change and personal transformation are possible, you know.
You just need to tweak a few things (constantly) and never stop trying.
Today, we will talk about those things that need tweaking 😊 and see how you can set achievable New Year’s resolution that stick.
Related post: My Personal Transformation Journey or How I Drastically Changed My Life in a Year
I created an entire Workbook to guide you in all these questions and help you find clarity. Download it here if you want a more step-by-step approach 👇
1. Identify ONE Goal
That’s the overarching thing you want in your life: the big picture.
Is it to be stronger physically? Lose 10 pounds? Be more creative? Increase your income? Manage your emotions better?
Here are a few questions to help you figure this out:
- What is (are) the main source(s) of pain in my life?
- Do I have recurring or nagging thoughts? What are they?
- What causes me constant fear, shame, sadness, or regret regarding my behavior?
Take time to reflect on these questions, and be honest with yourself. But don’t just think about it; write down your thoughts. It will help clarify your true desires and priorities.
Don’t forget that you can always download the Transformation Workbook here for a more step-by-step approach 👇
2. Find Your Why
That’s the “motivation” part (part 1).
Finding your why gives you a deeper purpose and helps you stay committed even when the going gets tough.
Because it will get tough.
Fear can be a good motivator. It works well when you’ve forgotten what the “ideal” looks like (for ex. because you haven’t felt healthy and energized for a long time), but you know you can no longer deal with your present or where things are headed (low energy, foggy, depressed, etc.).
However, you will eventually need to move past fear and look to your desired outcome for a more positive form of motivation.
Questions to help you find your why:
- What are the consequences of you not addressing these issues?
- How do you imagine you will feel in the future if you keep not addressing these issues?
- If you were to reach your ideal outcome, how do you think you’d feel?
3. Choose ONE Course of Action
Identify the step(s) that will take you from where you are to where you want to be.
Then choose the one that appeals to you the most, is most effective, or the one that makes more sense to you in terms of resources available, time constraints, interest, etc.
Sticking to one course of action helps avoid overwhelm and increases your chances of staying on track.
Studies show that focusing on a single habit at a time can significantly increase your success rate. For instance, one research found that it takes an average of 66 days to form a new habit, but this is more manageable and effective when you concentrate on one change at a time (source: Psychology Today).
Related post: The ONLY New Year’s Resolution You Need for 2025
4. Do That One Thing Every Morning
That’s the “motivation” part, part 2.
It’s not about how you feel. It’s about what you decided.
Become more disciplined and stop relying on motivation.
Motivation is a myth.
Make it a routine, a non-negotiable.
When you create a morning habit, it ensures you start each day with a sense of accomplishment and focus, setting a positive tone for the rest of the day.
5. Understand Your Mind
Our brains love the known, the predictable, and the safe.
Your mind will play tricks on you and try to get you to quit or stop doing that new thing because it is uncomfortable.
Understand that:
- Just because you don’t feel like running, you can still run.
- Just because you don’t feel like eating vegetables, you can still eat them and feel full and stop craving that heavily processed cake.
You can not feel like doing things and still do them.
It’s okay to not feel like doing something as long as you do it anyway. That’s why it’s a good idea not to overwhelm yourself with a laundry list of things you don’t want to do but have to do.
Stick to ONE resolution, ONE new habit or behavior that can get you closer to your goal.
As long as you do that, you can cut yourself some slack about the rest because you will have accomplished the most important thing for you first thing in the morning.
6. … And a Little Secret for The Road
I’ll let you in on a little secret. It’s so simple you could cry, but it has CHANGED my life.
The more you do something, the more you want to do that thing.
Pause here and take a moment to truly read this sentence:
The more you do something, the more you want to do that thing.
This means: the more you smoke, the more you’ll want to smoke.
But it also means the more you wake up in the morning and go for a run, the more you’ll WANT to wake up in the morning and go for a run.
It’s math.
Okay, maybe not math 😂 but you get what I’m saying.
Final Words
Okaaay, my work here is done!
You now have all the tools you need to pick the right, achievable New Year’s resolution for you and stick to it.
Any idea what action you’ll want to implement? Share it with us in the comments. It motivates me and the other readers 😊 (this means you too, btw).
Check out the Transformation Workbook here for a more step-by-step approach 👇