Don’t Let Your New Year Resolution Ideas Declare You a Failure.
Do one thing every month and get back on track.
Something about ringing in January, armed with your checklist of New Year resolution ideas, feels powerful.
With one year conquered, you look ahead to another, hoping for success, good fortune, and all the other New Year’s buzzwords. But hope alone isn’t enough, so you spend most of December reflecting, reevaluating, and maybe even regretting.
Then, you take matters into your own hands, resolving to make big changes. Come January 1st, the New Year resolutions finally kick into gear.
That’s when you dump out your comforting stash of junk food. That’s when you get a gym membership and join forces with the 12% who are also signing up this time of year. That’s when you declare, once and for all, that you’re going to put yourself out there instead of sitting around and waiting for life to happen.
But the New Year’s ball drop came and went, as it always does, and nothing changed. There was no cosmic shift, no sudden revelations, and no new you.
But that’s not on you. Your New Year resolution ideas just weren’t meant to last. Most of them have an expiration date in February, so it doesn’t matter if yours went kaput by the second week of January.
This phenomenon is so common that you might already know the answer to the oft-posed question: Why do New Year resolutions fail?
We set unrealistic goals; we’re too hard on ourselves; we expect too much, yada, yada, yada. But then why do we bother making a commitment every December like it’s the first day of cuffing season?
Self-improvement is an obvious answer. After all, it stands to reason that no one would want to be the same version of themselves year after year. But self-improvement is also essential for achieving two other overarching goals: personal growth and fulfillment.
And even if you didn’t stick to your resolutions at the start of the year, you can still learn how to keep New Year’s resolutions.
One of the reasons many of us fail is that we’re not as patient as we would like to think. We want to see the positive effects of our New Year resolution ideas, and we want to see them right away. The good news is the right resolutions are actionable in less than 30 days, and they feel rewarding, too.
Here are 12 New Year resolution ideas that are actually easy to stick to. Commit to one each month to get back on track.
1. Be Present in January
We’re halfway through January, and by now, the holiday spirit of December is long gone. Perhaps you’re starting to realize that this new year isn’t slated to be all sunshine and roses. Things look bleak, you’re feeling overwhelmed, and the negative thoughts keep coming.
But take a moment, or several, to just stop and breathe. Just because it’s a new year doesn’t mean you need to keep looking ahead. Instead, accept each day for what it is and make time to process it. Meditate for at least five minutes a day and work your way up.
Practicing mindfulness as a New Year resolution idea can set you up for success, not just when it comes to your other resolutions, but in everything you set out to do.
2. Love in February
On the nose for February, right? While you can certainly go out of your way to shower your partner with chocolates and flowers on Valentine’s Day, this New Year resolution idea is about letting go of reservations when it comes to love, particularly as it relates to yourself.
It’s no secret that we’re our harshest critics, so resolve to block out the judgmental thoughts you have about yourself. No more “I’m not good enough” and “I’m worthless.” Instead, make a note of one positive thing about yourself for 28 days. Write it out, say it in front of the mirror, or just lock it away in your mind.
And since it’s the month of love, take a chance if you’re single. The meet-cutes you see in movies rarely happen, and if they do, they don’t always play out the way it does for Jesse and Celine in Before Sunrise, so find a way to put yourself out there.
Alternatively, if you don’t want to throw yourself to the wolves just yet, take yourself on a date instead.
3. Sleep in March
Thanks to Daylight Savings, you’re going to lose an hour of sleep, so you might as well resolve to squeeze in a bit more shut-eye each day this month as one of your New Year resolution ideas.
We end up neglecting sleep at some point or another, but sleeping is essential for your overall health and well-being, so resist the urge to stay up and binge one more episode of The Crown.
But in addition to aiming to get the recommended eight hours of sleep every day, resolve to practice healthy sleep hygiene habits. Limiting caffeine intake throughout the day, avoiding screens at least an hour before bed, and establishing a consistent sleeping schedule are all ways to improve the quality of your sleep.
4. Declutter in April
There’s no better way to welcome spring than with some spring cleaning. But decluttering isn’t just about keeping your space clean for the sake of appearances; it can also improve your life by clearing your mind.
Excessive clutter takes up valuable space that can prevent you from feeling happy in your own home, so try to maintain a space that leaves you feeling your best. After all, setting New Year resolution ideas is meant to achieve just that.
5. Go Green in May
You should love trees for more than just a day, so make the celebration last a whole month and even longer.
Plant something or make environmentally conscious choices. You don’t have to quit meat cold turkey, but small things, such as using metal straws, carrying tote bags to the supermarket, and thrifting clothes, can make a big difference.
6. Reconnect in June
We’re all guilty of losing touch with people, even the ones we really care about. Often, the culprit is a text or email that has gone unanswered for so long that we think it would be embarrassing to reach out again. Or maybe it’s just half-hearted attempts to make plans — all the variations of “next time I’m in town” and “let’s catch up soon, for sure.”
This month, make an effort to reach out to people you haven’t talked to in a while as one of your New Year resolution ideas. And when you’re making plans, don’t just say that you’ll catch up one day. Suggest a time and date and make it happen.
As the poet John Donne famously wrote, “No man is an island.” We need other people to get us through life, so don’t take your friends and loved ones for granted, no matter how many miles or time zones separate you.
7. Eat in July
Fourth of July, National Fried Chicken Day, and National Wine and Cheese Day all fall in the month of July.
Since weight loss is often one of the most common New Year resolutions, you might’ve spent the better half of the year eating healthy or attempting a joy-deprived juice cleanse.
But small indulgences don’t hurt anyone, and they can also feel liberating. This month, try new foods and broaden your taste palette. If you’re feeling experimental, make these dishes yourself instead of getting take-out as one of your New Year resolution ideas.
8. Walk in August
With summer almost coming to an end, now is the best time to get outside and hit 10,000 steps.
If that’s a daunting number, don’t fret. New Year resolution ideas often succeed when you start small, so just try to walk at least a mile every day.
At this point, if you haven’t been able to stick to a steady exercise routine, walking is a great, low-impact way to move your body and maybe regain the motivation to get back into fitness.
9. Read in September
Many people vow to read 100 books in a year, but it’s not always possible, so this New Year resolution idea often crashes and burns. You don’t have to commit to reading a book each day in September, but try to squeeze in as much reading as you can this month.
Everyone likely has something they’re interested in knowing more about, so determine what that is for you. Just make sure to read at least one thing that’s not an online article. While you’re at it, donate a few books to a school or library to do your part and raise educational standards in your community.
10. Be Brave in October
We’re all scared of something. You don’t have to make a New Year resolution idea to conquer your worst fears if you don’t want to, but you can try to do something that scares you a little.
Maybe you’ve always wanted to get a tattoo but never attempted it out of the small fear of suffering from tattoo regret. Maybe you want to try improv. Or maybe you just want to be bolder at work. Whatever it is, step outside your comfort zone this month.
11. Disconnect in November
No, you don’t have to go the whole month without a cell phone or a steady WiFi, but you can likely handle one day of disconnection and maybe more.
To distract yourself, plan a small trip as long as it’s safe to do so. It doesn’t need to be a grand vacation to Greece; just take a road trip and venture out farther than your small town. And don’t forget, no Instagram, no Facebook, no emails. This is a day reserved solely for you.
Assuming you make it through the day and didn’t hate every second of it, you could even consider making this New Year resolution idea a weekly practice.
12. Journal in December
It’s almost time to make a whole new list of New Year resolution ideas. This is the month when you start looking back and reflecting on everything you’ve done and things that have happened.
Writing it down can be a good way to put things in perspective and reset for the new year. If you can’t commit to writing too much, look up journal prompts or just stick to writing one line. Write about your day, something that made you happy or sad, and just take the time to reset this month.
New Year resolution ideas, much like relationships and just about everything else in life, take work. You can’t change everything you dislike about yourself and transform into the 2.0 version of yourself overnight. That version might be out there, but make peace with your current self for the present moment.
Accept that you probably won’t become fluent in a new language, but learning even a little bit is an accomplishment.
Face up to the fact that you likely won’t have a six-pack by April, but practicing healthy habits might still make you feel good. And you might lose your Tinder match in 10 days, but hey, at least you tried, and failure, if nothing else, is always a lesson learned.
Achieving your New Year Resolution ideas isn’t a race. Every small step toward self-improvement will add up. Just make sure you do something, anything, every month.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read in our publication.
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Puffy is a California-based company founded on the idea of creating cloud mattresses and bedroom products that feel like sleeping on a cloud. Puffy has been featured on The Talk, and was recently awarded Best Mattress of 2021. For more information visit https://puffy.com
