If you’re one of the millions (if not billions) of people looking forward to creating a “new you” in the new year, you’re probably considering making some new year resolutions. But if you’ve tried new year’s resolutions before, you probably know that it is much easier to make resolutions than it is to stick to them. That doesn’t mean you should give up without trying! Making new year’s resolutions and sticking to them is a positive step that can lead to better mental health, so it’s definitely worth a go. If you want to learn some key steps to making resolutions and making them stick, read on!
Prioritize Your Mental Health In 2025
First, let’s consider why people even take on resolutions in the first place. Many of us are attracted to the idea of making positive changes in the new year: “a new me for the new year”. It’s the sort of thing that helps push us through the cold winter months, since spring still feels a long way off at the turn of the new year.
Do you need new year’s resolutions?
New year’s resolutions aren’t for everyone. Some find resolutions to be powerful motivators that drive them through the first months of the new year. Others are not so enamored with the idea. If you’re considering setting new year’s resolutions, here is a crucial question you need to ask yourself.
Will this help motivate me, or just add unnecessary stress?
If you decide that making resolutions is not your thing, that’s fine. Not everyone needs or wants them. Maybe you don’t want your life dictated by a list, and prefer to live in the moment.
How did new year’s resolutions start?
This probably isn’t why you’re here, but the history of new year’s resolutions is interesting, so here’s (really) a brief history of their origins.
New Year’s resolutions can be traced back to the ancient Babylonian festival of Akitu (a new year festival) around 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, according to Dr. Candida Moss, a Professor of Theology from the University of Birmingham in England. The Babylonians would make vows for the new year to appease their gods.
By the first century, the Romans also approached the new year with a positive mindset. This included exchanging gifts symbolizing prosperity to try to bank some good luck for the new year.
We need to go back to 1671 for the earliest existing written reference to the modern iteration of new year’s resolutions. Anne Halkett, a Scottish memoirist, listed her good intentions under “resolutions”.
Whatever the era, “start as you mean to go on” seems to be the overarching feeling when it comes to new year’s resolutions.
And that’s probably as good an approach for 2025, when the desire to make a positive start to the new year is as strong as ever.
Give Your New Year’s Resolutions The Best Chance Of Sticking
It’s great to want to be the “best version of ourselves”, but we shouldn’t put additional pressure on ourselves to make it happen. This can happen when we set unreachable standards and have unfair expectations of ourselves, and it doesn’t help our resolutions or our mental health. Instead, we can end up struggling and feeling down on ourselves because of it.
That is a big reason why many of us – apparently round 64% – drive ourselves too fast and then give up on our resolutions by February. Instead, let’s avoid burnout. If we get realistic about our new year resolutions, we can achieve our goals in a healthy way that leaves us motivated and feeling good about ourselves.
If you want to get serious about your new year resolutions, keep this in mind, and also bear in mind the following steps that will set you on the right track.
Decide Whether To Make A Change
Before you consider making any changes, think what it will mean for you. Don’t make changes because people tell you you should. Make changes because you believe in them. You are more likely to find the willpower and stick to your resolutions if you believe in what you’re doing.
If it’s an unhealthy habit, for example, try to understand why a change would benefit your life. Weigh up the pros and cons, and decide on a change accordingly.
Be Choosey
You may think you’re playing the odds by having a whole list of resolutions, and that you’re bound to fulfil at least one or two of them. Right? Actually you’re more likely to find success if you limit yourself to two or three resolutions and really focus on them. There’ll be far fewer to manage, meaning you’ll find it easier to keep track of all the different little milestones you set yourself for each one… when you get to the planning stage – see further down!
Resolution Reruns
When you’re picking out your new year’s resolutions, try not to pick exactly the same resolutions you have given up before. Otherwise, you risk slipping up over the same obstacles. Of course, if there is something you really want to do as a resolution, like quitting smoking, you can find a way to adapt your old resolution. For example, instead of aiming to quit altogether, this time aim to reduce your smoking by half, and see how you do.
Make A Commitment
Make yourself accountable by letting others know the changes you are planning. This will give you some extra motivation to succeed. Some people go big on social media and post each time they reach a new milestone.
Of course, you might not want to make such a public commitment. You can just make a promise to a loved one.
We never want to disappoint our loved ones, so making a commitment to a loved one, such as a parent, will definitely provide added motivation.
At EJAI Loves Homecare, our clients hire our registered and qualified caregivers to provide expert in-home care to keep their loved ones as independent and comfortable as possible in their own homes. And guess what? Their loved ones are never disappointed!
Planning: Small Steps Lead To Big Changes
It’s tempting to make big resolutions, such as losing a lot of weight, or walking a mile each day. A big goal like that can be a dazzling prize, but only if you make it. And of course you can make it, with the right support and lots of determination.
Just be sure to break down that big goal into smaller steps that are easier to handle and can help you fulfil your dream. If you’re trying to get fit, start with small goals. As you achieve them, you will gain the confidence to progress toward bigger goals.
Think of the loyalty app for the typical coffee shop. We usually enjoy a reward after just a couple of purchases – an easy win that encourages us to visit more often.
Also, do some research into the resolution you are attempting. If you are training for a marathon, research how long it would take someone like you to be ready to run one. This way you will be ready for what lies ahead and can plan some appropriate milestones to measure and reward your progress.
Little Rewards Along The Way
If you have established a major resolution you want to fulfil, don’t wait until you have achieved it to give yourself some recognition. Give yourself a little reward for each milestone you reach.
Of course, if you’re trying to lose weight it’s probably not a good idea to reward yourself with a bag of doughnuts. Instead, try something more appropriate. Like, reward yourself with an episode from your favorite sitcom when you reach one of your small steps. Or rock out to your fave tune!
Schedule It
People are always saying they don’t have time for things. Well, the only way to find time for something is to make time for it. So put it on your daily schedule and make your resolution a priority.
And don’t think of it as a soft commitment that you can move around as necessary, or only fit in when you can. Treat it like a vital appointment that you need to keep. Remember that your resolutions are just as important as anything else.
Something Is Better Than Nothing
Perhaps you tend to think: “Well, I had fries at lunch, so I might as well have pizza at dinner and restart my diet after the weekend”. That is an “all or nothing” mindset.
But doing something is better than doing nothing, as all of those little somethings will add up.
You don’t have to keep up your resolution every day for it to make a difference. Even if you skip a day here or there, your efforts all count. So don’t use the excuse that you will “restart in…” Eventually, your resolution will become a habit and you won’t need to put so much effort into it, it will just become a part of your life.
It Takes A Village
We always do better when we have others to support us. That’s why it is important to identify family and friends you can lean on. They’re great to keep you motivated when the going gets tough. But they also also encourage you by reminding you of all the good reasons you chose your resolutions.
Having people close at hand for support will definitely help to keep you on the right path – especially if you’re battling cravings. Using a buddy system means you’re kept motivated but also accountable. It’s great if you and a friend are taking up the same resolutions since you can encourage each other.
Turn Your Resolution Into A Habit
Isn’t that just the way: bad habits are easy to pick up, but good habits seem to take a while. A study in 2009 discovered that it takes an average of 66 days for us to form a new habit. That’s over two months! Don’t get down on yourself if you think it is taking a long time to form a new good habit.
So if you think you’ve had a slip-up, don’t worry, it will all come together.
Remember that change is a process, and you just need to give yourself time and keep at it. After all, you’re trying to break a bad habit that was developed over time, so it makes sense that it will take time to form new good habits.
Stay Motivated
In the first few days of your resolutions it might be easy going, but after a while you might find your willpower dwindling. Especially if your resolution results in some kind of discomfort, such as nicotine withdrawal, or aching muscles from the gym.
Yes, having a dedicated support network is a great way to keep motivated, but for those of us who don’t have such support, there are other ways to stay motivated. If you have decided to keep your resolutions to yourself, try keeping a resolution journal.
Use a resolution journal to write and remind yourself why you have embarked upon these changes.
Write to consider your goals and any setbacks you’ve encountered. Put down your thoughts and anything you think might help you on your journey. It can also be a handy place to think about your approach and devise a new plan if things aren’t working out.
A resolution journal can also be a great way to trace patterns. For example, if you have any setbacks, slip-ups, or relapses, your journal can help you determine whether they usually come after a particular event. A particular day, or time of the month?
Every Experience Is A Learning Opportunity
You can learn from every experience, whether you deem it a success or not. Remember that while the road to success may include some failures along the way, those failures may contribute to your overall success.
Also each time you slip up it is an opportunity to reevaluate your approach. Ask yourself if you have set a realistic goal. Maybe you could scale your goal back to be more achievable.
Don’t use a slip up as an excuse to give up altogether. Little dips and lows will happen now and then. The key is getting up when you get down. Just treat it as a learning moment and take what you can from the experience.
Be Grateful… And Patient
Be thankful for the progress you are making and don’t become fixated on perfection. You don’t have to quit smoking entirely to be a success. Cutting down significantly can also be a worthy achievement.
The timeframe you set to achieve your goal is up to you, so it is not a failure if you have not achieved it in the time you allowed, and the challenge doesn’t need to be over.
Progress is a matter of perspective, and it is not always evident. Some weeks you might feel like you’re making great strides, but then feel like you’re struggling other times. Remember that progress can be slow-going sometimes, and that it takes time to make changes that stick. As long as you continue with your resolutions, you are making progress.
Final Thoughts
It’s always a great idea to improve ourselves. Think of yourself as an ever-evolving work of art that just gets better and better with time. New year’s resolutions offer a fantastic way to start the year in a positive way.
Just remember to choose your resolutions carefully and make sure you keep motivated if things get difficult. Don’t get discouraged if things take longer than you expected and remember that good habits take a while to form, so try not to become disheartened or get down on yourself.
If you lose your willpower, try to remember why you started doing this in the first place by using a New Year’s resolutions journal, and take it one day at a time. Above all, remember to do as the ancient Babylonians and Romans did, and start the year as you mean to go on.
Maybe your positive new year’s resolutions include making life as comfortable as possible for a loved one who needs care. EJAI Loves Homecare and their trusted caregivers are dedicated to providing clients care in the comfort of their home, where they can maintain maximum independence at minimum cost. Contact the team to find out more!