New Year, New Habits: Redefining Resolutions

The phrase 'New Year, New Me' carries a mix of hope and motivation, yet it often feels easier said than done. As we step into the new year, many of us dive into rituals. We create vision boards, eat grapes under tables, and reorganize our schedules—all in the hopes of becoming a “perfect” vision of ourselves. However, the real question is not necessarily who we want to be, but how we will get there.

In the first few weeks of January, it’s common to see packed gyms and ambitious to-do lists, only for them to fade away by February. We casually forget our color coded agendas and productivity apps, falling back into the same routines we had the year before. Why do we often lose the motivation or strength to follow through on our New Year's resolutions?

In the days that lead up to January 1, we set goals in a euphoric fog, often making them seem easier than they actually are. We fall into an “all-or-nothing” mindset, not properly planning our thoughts out, leading to inconsistency and overwhelm.

Steve Jobs once said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” I’ve found that the only time I focus and work for something great, it’s because it’s something I truly want to achieve. It’s important to set goals that you are passionate about—goals that are made for you, not for anyone else. 

Progress is more sustainable with small, incremental changes. Break your goals into smaller, manageable steps that you can achieve over time, without overwhelming yourself. This will help you maintain motivation and stay true to your main goal of self-improvement. Instead of envisioning the final outcome, focus on one or two priorities. One of the things that always keeps me going is celebrating small wins. We all need moments of joy, even in moments of intensity. 

This new year, don’t think of it as ‘New Year, New Me.” Think of it as ‘New Year, New Habit.’ What is one small habit you can focus on this year? Envision progress as the little stepping stones of a path, not just the destination it leads you to. As we welcome this new year, let’s remember that true change comes from persistence, appreciation, and the willingness to embrace every step of the journey, even the messy ones.