New Year, New You?
The New Year is like a giant reset button on your life, right? The clock strikes midnight, and suddenly, you're magically supposed to become an enlightened, superhuman version of yourself. One who exercises every day, makes green smoothies, reads 52 books, and, oh, maybe just saves the world while you’re at it.
Look, I get it. There’s something magical about the idea of a fresh start. The calendar turns and boom—your life is about to be completely transformed. But, let’s be real: it’s the third week of January, your gym membership is gathering dust, that green smoothie looks more like a crime scene, and your only reading material is the description of a new series you’re about to start streaming.
It doesn’t have to be that way, though. You can make lasting changes. And I’m not talking about transforming into a perfect human being overnight—no one’s asking you to become a walking ad for self-improvement. Instead, think of New Year’s resolutions as the first step toward a better you, not a perfect you.
If you’ve already stumbled, that doesn’t mean your whole year’s a write-off. In fact, I’ll let you in on a little secret: you’re not alone. January is the month for starting strong and then wondering where your motivation went by week three. (Spoiler: It’s probably hiding under your couch with a bag of chips.)
So, let’s cut the self-judgment and the absurd expectations. Let’s talk about how to set yourself up for success—while laughing at the chaos along the way.
Let’s make the rest of January your personal reboot. You can still crush your goals—but this time, let’s do it with a little less pressure and a whole lot of realness.
Resolution Rule #1: Start Small—Like, Super Small
If your January is already feeling like a failed Netflix series, let’s change the script. We’re going to ditch the “all-or-nothing” mindset and focus on starting small. In fact, if your New Year’s resolutions still feel like an enormous mountain, start by treating it like a molehill. Rome wasn’t built in a day—and neither is a fully functional gym habit or a six-pack (unless you’re a superhero, in which case, cool).
Start with bite-sized goals. It’s like trying to eat a pizza—do you try to take down the entire thing in one go? No. You slice it up into manageable pieces. (Yes, pizza metaphors are key to this whole process.)
For example:
Instead of “I’ll work out every day for the next 12 months,” aim for “I’ll walk 10 minutes today and see how I feel tomorrow.”
Instead of “I’m going to completely overhaul my diet,” try “I’ll eat one extra serving of veggies this week.”
The trick is to make these goals so small that even your laziest self would have a hard time avoiding them. And when you do them, you get the satisfying feeling of having actually accomplished something—no matter how tiny. And that, my friends, is how momentum begins.
Resolution Rule #2: Embrace Imperfection—No One Needs Another Instagram Perfect Life?
It’s the third week of January. If you’re still holding onto your original “perfect” plan like it’s the last cookie in the jar, it’s time to let it go. Perfection is a myth and it’s also really, really exhausting.
Perfection is the enemy of progress. You don’t need to be perfect—just consistent. You’re allowed to screw up, miss a day, or eat the entire pizza (we’re not judging, but maybe you shouldn’t eat the whole pizza). What matters is that you get back on track the next day.
If you missed a day at the gym (or a week), or your salad turned into a pizza—that’s okay. Seriously. Who’s going to care in February? Not you, because you’ll be back at it with fresh energy.
Think about it like this: life is a bumpy road. If you hit a pothole, do you pull over and never drive again? No. You just keep going, and if the pothole is deep enough, maybe it makes for a funny story later. It’s the same with your resolutions. If you miss a workout or eat junk food for a day, laugh it off, and keep moving. I mean seriously, what’s stressing about it really going to do? It’s like this saying I heard a while back, “Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but gets you nowhere.”
So, instead of setting yourself up for perfection, aim for progress. 80% good is a heck of a lot better than 0% because you threw in the towel too early.
Just keep showing up—imperfectly, messily, and with a good sense of humor.
Trust me, your future self will thank you for it.
Resolution Rule #3: Accountability—It’s Like Having a Backup Battery for Your Motivation
One of the biggest reasons resolutions fail is that we’re all too good at talking ourselves out of things. That voice in your head? It’s like that annoying friend who says, “Oh, just one more episode. You can work out tomorrow.” (We see you, Netflix.)
Accountability is your secret weapon. Whether it’s a friend, a group, or even a dog who looks at you with judgment when you skip your walk—find someone (or something) to keep you on track.
Here’s what you can do:
Share your goals with a friend and make a pact to check in weekly.
Set up a group chat with friends where you all share your progress. (Bonus: this turns your resolution into a fun competition!)
Use apps and devices like Cronometer or Fitbit as well as taking weekly photos to track your progress.
Having a buddy (or an app) makes it harder to bail, and it’s always fun to have someone else cheer you on.
Resolution Rule #4: Celebrate the Wins—Even the Tiny Ones (Because, Why Not?)
The year is young, but let’s be real: we’re already in the “do I even care anymore?” stage. So, if you accomplished even one thing on your resolution list, celebrate it! Did you get out of bed before noon? Celebrate it. Did you make it through a full 10 minutes of a workout without checking your phone? Pop the confetti.
It doesn’t matter how small. If you’re moving in the right direction, that’s worth a high five. And no, it doesn’t need to be perfect—sometimes celebrating a tiny win with a ridiculous dance move in your living room is the most motivational thing you can do.
Resolution Rule #5: Be Kind to Yourself—Or Else You’ll Be in a Cycle of Negative Self-Talk (and No One Needs That)
We’ve all been there: you slip up, miss a day, or binge-watch an entire season of something you’ve already seen—and suddenly, you’re stuck in a negative feedback loop that tells you, “I’m a failure, I should just quit.”
Stop. Right. There.
You are not a failure. Life happens. Sometimes you’re tired, sometimes your plans fall apart, and sometimes the General Tso’s Chicken and Crab Rangoons just call your name in a way that you can’t ignore. But you’re not defined by one or two missteps. The key is getting back on track, even if it feels awkward or slow. One step at a time is still one step closer to a better you.
So, when you slip up (and you will), be kind to yourself. Say, “Okay, I’ll do better tomorrow,” and then actually do better tomorrow. Let go of the perfectionist tendencies. Progress doesn’t come from never falling—it comes from getting back up after you do.
You’ve Got This
We’re getting closer to February and if you’re still holding on to those resolutions, that’s awesome. If you’ve already faceplanted into a pile of Crumbl and self-doubt—well, welcome to the club. But here’s the thing: it’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish (or rather, how you keep going, even when it feels like everything’s falling apart).
Remember, New Year’s resolutions aren’t about turning yourself into a robot of productivity. They’re about growth. And growth is messy, awkward, and sometimes just “kick you in the crotch, spit on your neck, fantastic”. Embrace that. Laugh at yourself when things don’t go according to plan, and keep going anyway. You'll be amazed at how much you can achieve when you stop worrying about being perfect and just focus on progress.
So, dust yourself off, throw on your favorite playlist (yes, even if it’s just for the “I’m getting my life together” vibes—hell, for me it’s “Ashes” by Céline Dion), and get ready to make 2025 the year you actually crush your resolutions.
Let’s do this, together—messy, imperfect, and full of motivation.
Happy almost February. Let’s crush it.