Change Habits Not Resolutions for 2025!
I hope you had a lovely holiday season xo
We are a few weeks into 2025 now and I want you to sit still for a moment and think about your first week of the new year - did you jot down a list of resolutions that inspire you this year? I think most of us do this but here’s the thing - you may be setting yourself up for a bumpy ride.
According to a Forbes Health/OnePoll survey conducted in October of 2023, 61.7% of respondents say they feel pressured to set a New Year’s resolution - is that you? In addition, many respondents plan on setting multiple goals with 66.5% stating they plan on making three or more resolutions for the year ahead. Yikes! The reality is, however, that over 90% of New Year’s resolutions will be abandoned within just a few short months according to this study.
Here are just a few reasons why we may fail making resolutions:
We think too BIG, or think it needs to be SEXY to matter
Change is hard so ask yourself WHY before setting the resolution
We just plain and simply are not ready for CHANGE
What do I suggest then?
Well my friend I would say take a deep breath and think about what HABITS and GOALS you want to adjust this year as opposed to a broad sweeping resolution - start with this and then try the following:
Make a list of the habits you want to work on this year and place them in a priority list with the top habit the most critical you are thinking about working on
Think about what goals are important to you and break them down into digestible pieces over time but be flexible and adjust as needed
Make a plan as to how you want to work on your goals and habit changes and be realistic with timing - change takes time
Be less rigid and strident with your change and experiment with different plans - treat your goal as an experiment and tweak as necessary - flexibility will be your new secret weapon for change
Who are your cheerleaders? Talk to them, let them know what you want to change this year and get them on board - nothing helps you blossom more than the support of people who care
Set up reminders and other cues to keep you on track
Check in with your saboteurs - those pesky voices in your head telling you all sorts of bullshit needs to be kicked to the curb - so keep an ear out for them and send them packing!
So what - you hit a barrier - accept it and adjust - don’t get hung up on worrying about it and creating anxiety - focus on what you can do and what is in your control - habits take time to change - be more self-compassionate
Keep trying - even if you miss a goal or step, get back at it and try again - changing behaviour is hard - so be flexible and kind to yourself - also be realistic and set yourself up for success!
Pick the time or season that makes the most sense to you to tackle your habit change/goals/esolutions - it is not written in stone that it needs to be the start of the new year! Spring is lovely too with new growth and blooms and the fall is always groovy with ‘back to school vibes’…this is your precious life and you get to write your story as you want to ;] Don’t cave to the pressure of new year resolutions - listen to your gut and then set your course
I do not write resolutions myself but I do think about habits and goals for the year I want to tackle and I approach change with flexibility and fun. My ‘why’ for this year has to do with my mind, body and spirit primarily and not so much with work - so here is my short list for 2025:
Weekly Yoga + Strength Training - non-negotiable - scheduled
Weekly Creative time (try daily) - including writing, painting, puzzle time and playing all my musical instruments
More intimacy and date time with my wonderful husband
Grow my newsletter list
Laugh every damn day
That’s it!
I would love to hear your ideas around habits and resolutions, your ‘why’ and your approach - hit reply and share with me and cheers to 2025 sista!
Rani xoxoxoxo
"This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.” — Taylor Swift