How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions
5 simple ways to make this year stick
Every January, we start with the best intentions. We promise ourselves this will be the year we follow through. And yet, by February, most resolutions fade and that is the critical period that defines the whole year. Not because we don't care, but because life gets loud, and because our feelings, desires, and motivation get cluttered with other distractions.
If you want this year to be different, here are five simple, human ways to help your resolutions actually last.
1. Don't make your resolution vague, make it personal
"Be healthier", "Slow down", "Be more present."
These sound good, but they don't anchor you. Instead, ask yourself:
- Why does this matter to me?
- What do I hope changes if I follow through?
When a resolution is tied to a feeling, a relationship, or a season of your life, it becomes harder to abandon.
Try this:
Write one sentence that starts with "This matters to me because…"
2. Expect motivation to fade and plan for it
Motivation is unreliable. Even the strongest intentions weaken on hard days.
That doesn't mean you're failing, it means you're human.
The key isn't trying harder, it is going back to your "why" from before. Hearing or reading your "why" and how to push through it at a perfect time is critical
Try this:
Instead of asking "Will I feel motivated?" ask "What will help me keep going when I don't?"
3. Break the year into moments, not months
A full year is overwhelming. Tie your resolutions to moments, not everything fits like a glove in a calendar. Progress happens in small check-ins, not big promises.
Try this:
Pick a few meaningful moments:
- 30 days from now
- Your birthday
- A difficult time you already know is coming
These are powerful points to reconnect with your intention.
4. Write messages to your future self (this is where most people miss the opportunity)
One of the most effective ways to stay aligned with your resolution is to write encouragement to yourself ahead of time.
Not reminders. Not pressure. Encouragement.
Words that explain:
- Why you started
- What you believe is possible
- How to keep going when it feels hard
When those words arrive later, at the right moment, they feel like support from someone who truly understands you.
Try this:
Write a few short messages to yourself and schedule them for:
- A day you usually struggle
- A milestone you want to reach
- A moment you might feel discouraged
Your future self will thank you. Write your future messages at WhenIWasHere.org
5. Stop treating resolutions as rules
You don't need more discipline, you need more compassion.
Resolutions last when we treat them like a conversation we keep coming back to, not a rule we either follow perfectly or abandon entirely.
Try this:
When you fall off track, don't quit. Pause. Reflect. Encourage yourself. Then continue.
That is success. Note down what you learned, because when you start again, you start with experience, it is not from 0 all over again.
A different kind of New Year's resolution
This year, instead of relying on willpower alone, let your words support you throughout the year.
Write them now. Save them. Let them guide you and inspire you throughout the year. Let them show up when you need them most.
Ready to Make This Year Different?
Start writing messages to your future self and let them guide you through the year when you need them most.
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