Rethinking New Year’s Resolutions for Better Success

There was a time when New Year’s resolutions were an essential part of the season for me. The fresh feeling of a clean slate, that symbolic reset button tied to January 1, felt like a powerful motivator. If I were in a different phase of life, I’d likely still rely on this tradition. But as life has become more complex and fulfilling, I’ve discovered a fresh approach that feels more liberating, grounded, and effective in achieving (and sustaining) my goals for the year ahead.

The Traditional Approach to New Year’s Resolutions

Every January, my inbox is flooded with emails promising solutions to fulfill my resolutions. Fitness programs, meal plans, book subscriptions—tools marketed as the keys to becoming a better version of me. It’s a modern ritual, tied to goals like “lose weight,” “read more,” or “organize your home.”

This approach to New Year’s resolutions is anything but new. The tradition can reportedly be traced back nearly 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. Their New Year, celebrated in mid-March during crop planting season, included rituals and promises to their gods, essentially marking some of the first known resolutions.

Fast forward to now, and the formula remains unchanged. You identify something you wish to improve or achieve and create a plan for action. But is this method the most effective?

Why Resolutions Often Fail

Studies show that 80-95% of New Year’s resolutions fail. Even if that number were closer to 50%, it would still feel discouraging. These sobering statistics beg the question—why does this approach often set us up for disappointment?

Most resolutions focus too heavily on the what—the shiny, end-goal vision. Want to lose weight? Join the gym. Want a cleaner home? Buy storage bins and plan a decluttering spree. But these resolutions often fail to address the root causes, or the barriers standing between your present self and your future goals. Without thoughtful preparation, resolutions can turn into lofty aspirations with no sustainable foundation.

A Smarter Path to Start the Year

Instead of just jumping into goal-setting as usual, I challenge you to dig deeper. To create the right conditions for long-term success, it’s crucial to look beyond the resolution itself and examine the obstacles that make it hard to follow through.

Here’s what this approach looks like in practice, using a simple example of someone looking to improve their fitness routine.

The Traditional Method

Resolution: Work out five days a week.

Action: Sign up for a gym membership and schedule workouts Monday through Friday.

Sounds straightforward enough, right? But what are the inevitable challenges? Lack of motivation, exhaustion in the mornings, or interruptions with childcare might get in the way.

Following this traditional method misses a critical step—resolving the obstacles that stand between you and success.

A Shift in Perspective

Now, with the “barrier first” mindset, consider this different approach to the same goal.

Resolution: Accept help from friends to create time for self-care and regular workouts.

Action: Reach out to supportive friends to build a network that allows for both self-care and fitness goals.

Here’s another example with a proactive tweak to confront barriers.

Resolution: Start each day an hour earlier to make space for working out.

Action: End each day with a relaxing ritual to nourish your energy, like incense and meditation, to prepare for an earlier wake-up time and refreshed mornings.

By shifting the focus to barriers, the action becomes the resolution. You’re not just chasing outcomes—you’re actively addressing the conditions that allow you to sustain meaningful change.

Practical Steps to Rethinking Your Resolutions

If this idea resonates with you, here are a few steps to implement this mindset for your upcoming resolutions.

1. Start with Reflection

Take time to think about why past resolutions may not have worked out. Were there specific hurdles you didn’t anticipate? Write them down—this will help you pinpoint what to address.

2. Break It Down

Avoid setting overly broad goals like “eat healthier” or “save money.” Break these down into smaller, actionable steps tied to potential barriers.

3. Focus on Conditions, Not Just Goals

Before leaping into new habits, ask yourself, “What’s standing in my way?” Build resolutions around creating the conditions to overcome those challenges.

4. Be Kind to Yourself

Resolutions aren’t about perfection—they’re about progress. Celebrate small wins, whether that’s prepping for one extra workout or saving $20 more this month.

5. Make It Sustainable

You’re creating a lifestyle shift, not a temporary sprint. Give yourself room to adjust as life evolves, and refine your resolutions as needed.

This alternative method reframes your resolutions to tackle obstacles directly, creating a realistic path to lasting change. Instead of focusing solely on what you hope to “achieve” (like hitting a number on the scale or reading 50 books), you’re focusing on how to show up for yourself consistently.

You’re no longer relying on willpower alone. Instead, you’re setting yourself up with strategies that help you adapt, overcome setbacks, and stay motivated.

Resolutions Done Right

It’s tempting to see New Year’s resolutions as the ultimate path to self-improvement. They offer clarity and purpose, helping you imagine a better version of yourself. And that’s powerful!

But by taking a closer look at what truly stands between you and your goals, you unlock the actual resolution—a system rooted in problem-solving and empowerment.

The start of a new year is an opportunity to check in with what’s truly important to you. What will make your life richer, healthier, or more fulfilling? Once you’ve answered that, take a moment to truly prepare for success.

This year, make your resolutions work for you. Focus on removing the roadblocks, and create lasting habits that support your goals.

2025 is yours for the taking—so what will you do with it?