Starting a goal in the new year is an arbitrary date. You can make changes to your life at any point. However, a new year provides additional motivation because you can look back and see how far you have come since January 1st.
If you feel like you already failed at your New Year's resolution, don’t let yourself take that all-or-nothing approach. Take a day or two to reassess. Analyze why you fell short and address that issue. Maybe you can consider revising your goal to something more attainable. Bookmark this post so you can return when you feel discouraged.
Learn to Adjust Your Resolutions
My Personal Experience With Bible Reading Goals
In my own experience, I have tried to read the Bible in a year and found by the midway point that I was several weeks behind in the plan. Instead of giving up and not reading my Bible, I adjusted my goal to at least read a chapter a day. I didn’t finish the Bible by December 31st but still spent significant time in the Word, bringing me closer to God. Instead of feeling like I had to start over on January 1st to fulfill my goal of reading the Bible in a year, I just continued what I already started and finished the New Testament. This year, I found that I am in a similar circumstance as I started a Bible reading plan that had associated videos to watch. I read the Bible daily, but with a busy work life as a doctor and home life with a toddler, it’s hard to make time for reading and videos. I have offered myself grace, knowing that reading the Bible in a year is a tough feat, and watching videos alongside it adds to the load. I know that if I wanted to I could catch up with the plan by taking a few days, but I know forcing myself to do so would make this seem like a chore instead of a daily practice I wanted to continue. I don’t want to read the Bible just to be able to check it off for the day. I've always wanted to continue a good habit of spending time in the Word and learning something new about God during that time. If I am forcing myself to read more chapters and watch more videos, I’m afraid it would turn into something I don’t look forward to doing and wouldn’t be able to take away much from.
Be patient and be forgiving of yourself. For any lasting change in your life, you likely aren’t going to get there on your first try. Learning from your mistakes takes you further to where you want to be.
Here are my ideas for New Year's resolutions in 2025 that you can have. Many of these I have fulfilled myself! I’ve also included ways to make it more manageable than a typical resolution.
Ideas for Lasting New Year's Resolutions in 2025
1. Exercise
Make Movement Manageable
Set a goal to take the stairs instead of the elevator/escalator whenever possible
Instead of aiming for 10,000 steps, set a step goal that is 1,000 steps more than your current average. Here is the Fitbit I use.
Create a stretching routine and set a functional goal like being able to touch your toes
Running
Instead of running a 5k, set a goal for starting a 5k training plan
If you have been running, instead of setting a specific goal such as a sub 25 min 5k, set a goal to achieve a new personal record
2. Diet
Small Dietary Adjustments
Instead of eliminating all junk food from your diet, set a goal to no longer purchase junk food to bring into your home. You can be more specific by selecting a type of junk food you regularly reach for, like never buying regular soda, chips, or ice cream. You can still enjoy these occasionally but only buy one serving instead of bringing more home.
Set a goal of no snacking after dinner. This is even less restrictive because you are making your snacking time-restricted.
Drink more water. If eight glasses feel too much for you, add one glass first thing in the morning that you didn’t have before.
Limit how often you eat out. Instead of never eating out, limit it to once a week. You can also set yourself up for success like purchasing a meal delivery service or starting meal prep so you can’t make excuses for not having time to cook.
3. Sleep
Build a Sleep Routine
Establish a new bedtime. Instead of reaching for that 9:00 pm bedtime, you’ve always dreamed of, adjust your bedtime by 15 minutes earlier.
Create a wind-down routine, eliminate screen use before bed
4. Finances
Save Money and Budget Wisely
Eliminate one of your subscriptions to save money. Do the math about how much you’ll save in one year, five years, or ten years.
Create a budget. Instead of trying to implement an Excel sheet that hasn’t worked for you, look at some apps on the app store for one that fits you better.
Instead of having the goal to pay off debt, have a weekly goal to how much you went to set aside to work towards that and have another financial goal (like the ones above) to get there
5. Spiritual
Create Sustainable Spiritual Goals
Instead of having the goal to read the Bible in a year, set a goal to spend time in the Word every day or have a more manageable goal like reading a chapter a day or reading through the Old or New Testament in a year (instead of both)
Be intentional about prayer by setting aside daily time or deciding to pray with a family member.
6. Self-care and Mental Health
Small Acts of Self-Care
See my previous post about how to start a practice of gratitude
Meditate daily or find some quiet deep breathing time daily. There are apps out there that will remind you!
Do something for yourself every day. Write it in your agenda book as if it’s an appointment you have to be on time for.
7. Family and Friends
Be Intentional About Quality Time
Instead of a vague goal like hoping to be a better friend/daughter/brother/husband/girlfriend, set a more measurable goal like reaching out to a friend once a week or having a special hour in the evening for you to have quality time with your spouse.
Set the goal of positivity by giving one compliment a day. Track your progress!
8. Things You Should’ve Been Already Doing
Focus on Essential Habits
Floss and brush your tongue. Place these tools next to your toothbrush for a visual reminder.
Clean places you may forget about like your fridge and car. Write these into your agenda book as a weekly task that is non-negotiable
Schedule your well check for your primary care physician and your dentist
9. Hobbies (who said resolutions couldn’t be fun?)
Explore Your Interests
Practice an instrument for 15 minutes a day
Sign yourself up for a class (masterminds count)
Read one book a month for fun
Start journaling
Start a blog
Try a new recipe once a week
10. Bad Habit Elimination
Manageable Strategies
Quit smoking or decrease your daily use
Limit social media use like setting app limits per day on your phone
Final Thoughts: Be Patient and Forgiving
For any lasting change, remember that you likely won’t succeed on the first try. Allow yourself grace, learn from setbacks, and adjust your approach when needed. Real progress comes from small, sustainable steps rather than perfection.
For more ideas and tips, check out these episodes of First Line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How can I stay motivated throughout the year?
Focus on progress, not perfection. Set small goals, celebrate achievements, and remember why you set the resolution in the first place.
2. How do I make resolutions that I can actually stick to?
Make your goals specific, measurable, and attainable. Start small and be consistent.
3. How can I track my progress effectively?
Use tools like journals or apps to monitor your progress. Tracking helps you stay accountable and motivated to keep going.