How To Create Habits, Not New Year’s Resolutions

Did you create a New Year Resolution this year? 

Have you already given up on it?? About 70% of people give up on their New Year’s Resolution within the first month. The truth is, they just don’t last. 

Why not?? There are a couple reasons why New Year Resolutions don’t work:

  1. Setting too big of goals
  2. Not having a plan 

Both of these reasons lead to quitting on our goals and ending up right back where we were…

But what if there was another way to go about it?

Creating habits can be much more long lasting and beneficial in actually completing the goals (aka resolutions) you set. 

Let’s talk about some things that will help us reach our goals and not just dream about them:

  1. Set big goals, then create smaller goals

So many New Years Resolutions fail because we create goals that are so big and overwhelming, they end up defeating us. 

Hear me say, dreaming big is a GOOD thing. We should dream big and have a vision of what we want for our lives. But sometimes we get so overwhelmed on how to achieve these goals that we get defeated and give up. 

In order to reach the big goals, we have to set smaller goals that lead to achieving the big goals. These smaller goals are like milestones. They are steps that we take to eventually make it to the big goal. 

Once we have smaller goals, we have to create daily steps to reach them. 

So maybe your goal (like many people in January) is to go to the gym more or eat healthier. Your ultimate goal is to lose X amount of weight or feel better in your skin. That is your big goal. 

Your small goal would be breaking those down to “my skin looks healthier” or “I feel better in the clothes I am wearing.” If you are trying to get back into shape you would break your numbers down into weekly goals (such as lose a certain number per week or up your weights to a certain number per week).  

The daily steps (aka HABITS) are things you do every day to hit your small goal and eventually your big goal. Maybe you start out going to the gym 2 times per week or adding one vegetable every day.

Don’t overwhelm yourself with habits or, again, you will give up. The goal is to build on them. So you start adding one vegetable per day. Maybe the next week you add two vegetables per day. Next you add a fruit or a whole grain. 

Adding is easier than removing, so start by ADDING habits to accomplish your goal. 

It’s like climbing up a ladder. You just have to take it one step at a time. 

  1. Create a plan

What happens when we don’t have a plan? Things don’t happen!

Making things happen can take some planning and preparation. If you are serious about the goals you want to reach, you are going to need a plan.

In order to create a plan, you need to know what your daily habits will be that will help you reach your goal(s). 

For example, if your goal was eating healthier, you would need to know what exactly you want to change in what you are currently eating or what you want to add, make a grocery list for food items needed for the week, and go grocery shopping. This might also include writing down what meals you are going to eat each day of the week and doing a little meal prep to make your week easier. 

When we don’t plan, we “run out of time” and go back to our old habits. 

Don’t overcomplicate it. Plan for your habits (write out meals) for the week in the notes app on your phone, keep things simple (make simple meals), or get some help (order groceries to save time). Do what works for you, just don’t make excuses!

  1. Remember your why

Forgetting why we set a goal can be easily done. We get distracted by life and everything else that has to be done. We forget about why we set the goal in the first place!

When you are struggling to stay committed to your habits, remember why you started in the first place. Remember how you want to feel or what you want to accomplish. 

Some people benefit from having a visual reminder about why they set their goals. This can be written, drawn, or pictures to remind you of your why. 

When you feel like giving up, use your why to keep you going. 

Most people do not accomplish their New Years Resolutions, but many people stick with habits. Habits are what is going to help us accomplish our goals, not “resolutions.” 

When we create doable, everyday habits, we will eventually reach our goal without the overwhelm or defeat. 

Let’s commit to some HABITS this year!

Here are my habits that I am continuing and/or creating this year: 

  1. Moving my body 5 days/week
  2. Limiting processed foods and sugars 
  3. Eating all the fruits, veggies, and whole grains
  4. Limiting my social media time
  5. Creating more JOY in my life

I would love to hear what your habits for this year will be! Comment below and let me know 💜

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I’m Ashley

I HELP women heal their mental health through lifestyle habits

I spend my days helping others learn more about themselves and take care of themselves so they can live a life they love. You are capable of living a life feeling good in your body and I love seeing that happen!

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