New Resolutions for 2025 – exactly what comes to mind when we start a new year. There’s something about setting them that makes us hopeful – until a few weeks into 2025, when we quickly lose the motivation to keep up with the resolutions and forget what we actually wanted to achieve. But why? Isn’t it natural to have a few 2025 resolutions in our minds?
Well, the problem is that at the heart of the phrase “New Year’s resolutions” is change – to do more sport, lose weight, start a business, save money, get a promotion – and the preamble of change might tell our brains that we are not good enough as we are (“a new year, a new me”). But hang on: isn’t it a good thing that we want to change? Yes, but change takes time and effort. We all want to become better, but there’s a fine line between working to grow and not feeling good enough as you are.
According to U.S. News & World Report, 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. So why do resolutions, essentially healthy intentions, fail to stick? Read on to find out why resolutions don’t work most of the time (and why those 2024 resolutions didn’t work either) and what you could do instead.
Why do most people struggle with resolutions?
The wrong resolution
Well, in many cases, the resolutions we set ourselves aren’t actually what we’re interested in. Do you want to start a business? Or maybe simply to take up the sport? A new hobby? We often set resolutions that we think will make us feel more fulfilled, successful, or confident. But the reality is quite different. It’s up to us how we feel.
We are not always in control
Even if our resolutions are truly rooted in what we want, things often don’t go according to plan because of outside influences. Resolutions that are based on destination instead of intention are doomed to fail. If, for example, you set out to start a business but realize that you don’t have the necessary funds, you will feel that you have failed because you haven’t achieved your goal instead of feeling proud that you may have started working on a business plan for the first time, you have outlined it, you have a clear idea and direction.
Alternatives to New Year’s resolutions
1. Reflecting on the previous year
Consider achievements, challenges, and lessons learned. This can help us understand where we have been and where we want to get to. Once we know what we want to do, we immediately get to work and write it down to move on to the next point.
2. Setting SMART goals
This is where the magic will happen. Goals must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. SMART goals can help us understand our goals, how to approach new habits, and how to measure success.
3. Sharing goals
If a goal is too big, it can be broken down into manageable steps. Let’s go back to the business example. It is indeed a big goal. But you can start by identifying a business idea, researching the market, drawing up a plan, setting a budget, creating a brand, and so on. That way, you can make sure you achieve your goal.
4. Choosing combinations of objectives
To ensure you complete the most challenging goals, it’s essential to include a few easier ones on your list to motivate you. It is also easier to set goals on different levels. For example:
- Professional plan: starting a business.
- Personal plan: attending a communication course.
- Financial plan: saving money and investing.
- Social plan: community involvement.
- Spiritual: personal reflection.
5. Focus on what is important
What are really the most important goals for us? Those are the ones to start with! However, in the first instance, we can focus on goals where we can quickly achieve a result. That way, we give an endorphin boost by accomplishing a task, and we’ll become more motivated to tackle the next goal, even if it’s a bit more complicated. So start by setting a significant (but achievable) goal at the beginning of the year.
6. Goal tracking
Keeping track of goals can help us measure our success and see where to improve. But remember that perfection is not the goal. No one is perfect, and progress is better than perfection when it comes to change. It’s hard to start making something perfect 100% of the time when it’s something new. We should aim for gradual growth. For example, instead of taking up running for 50 minutes non-stop when we’ve never done it before, it is better to start three days a week running for 20 minutes and increase the minutes progressively. This is the achievable part of SMART goals!
7. Celebrating victories
Have we achieved a goal? We might as well pop open the champagne and CELEBRATE the hard work. We at Blu Desk Soft are cheering you on and keeping our fingers crossed in the new year!
Simply put
It’s essential to have goals instead of resolutions because goals are specific, measurable, and achievable, giving us a clear plan of action to reach our goals. Unlike resolutions, which are often general and vaguely worded (e.g., “I want to be healthier”), goals allow us to define concrete steps to take and set deadlines, which increases the chances of success. Therefore, with well-defined goals, we can monitor progress, adjust strategies, and stay motivated, making it easier to turn wishes into reality. This helps us to focus and constantly improve performance in all aspects of our lives.