10 Tips for Crafting Realistic New Year’s Resolutions

Credit: Style My Soul, www.stylemysoul.com | New Year's 2025

Discover the art of setting New Year’s resolutions that actually stick, guided by the wisdom of these industry leaders. This article unpacks practical tips for crafting realistic goals, from adopting micro habits to aligning with core values.

Set Small, Achievable Goals
Set small, achievable goals that are easy to track. I’ve found that trying to tackle big, overwhelming changes can lead to burnout. A few years ago, I decided to focus on improving one small habit every month, whether it was waking up 10 minutes earlier or reading a few pages of a book each day. Keeping things manageable helped me stay on track throughout the year. I also learned that adjusting goals along the way is key — life changes, and sometimes we need to re-evaluate. The lesson I’ve learned is that consistency, not perfection, is what leads to long-term success. It’s important to be flexible and celebrate progress, no matter how small. This approach has helped me keep my resolutions throughout the year, and I believe it can work for anyone aiming to make lasting changes in 2025. - Timm Sasser, Chief Revenue Officer, UpFrom

Focus on Micro Habits
When setting New Year’s resolutions, focusing on micro habits has made all the difference for me. When I decided to quit alcohol, instead of saying, “I’ll never drink again,” I focused on the small, daily action: just not drinking today. This aligns with research I’ve conducted showing that the accumulation of small victories creates sustainable habits. Discipline and consistency in tiny actions lead to big changes. When I lost 50 pounds, I didn’t start by overhauling my entire diet and exercise routine. Instead, I added small, meaningful changes like a short daily walk. This approach, centered on gradually incorporating small habits, provided tangible, motivating results and led to long-term success. Men I’ve coached often find themselves overwhelmed by towering resolutions. Instead, I guide them to break those down into realistic actions with clear deadlines. This method, wrapped in empathy and understanding from personal change, allows them to feel empowered and in control, crucial for maintaining momentum throughout the year. - Jason Plevell, Personal Coach, The Obstacle Remover

Build Systems, Not Outcomes
As someone who thrives on building habits that drive long-term success, I’ve found that most people approach New Year’s resolutions backward. We set goals with motivation fueling them: “I’m going to wake up at 6 AM each day to work out because I really want to get fit.” The problem is, motivation is a transitory thing. Life starts happening, you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock, and the goal falls apart. And by focusing on building systems not outcomes, you can then say, “I’ll have one protein-heavy meal a day with no processed snacks,” instead of trying to say, “I will lose 20 pounds,” or “I will read 50 books” should be changed to “I will listen to audiobooks for 15 minutes while commuting every day,” because the system is not only actionable, simple, and repeatable, but simply becomes part of your daily routine, rather than making you psych yourself up and want to do it. I learned this personally when I tried to write consistently. I had huge, intimidating writing goals that crashed within weeks. When I switched to a system — with a commitment to writing 300 words every day, even if they were awful — it became sustainable. It wasn’t about perfect output; it was about progress. The output began to grow naturally, and I hit goals that at one point seemed impossible to me. Resolutions fail because they are based on willpower. Systems succeed because they eliminate the need for it. Build small, repeatable systems, and the results will take care of themselves. Hopefully, this new approach will keep your readers on track in 2025! - Derek Pankaew, CEO & Founder, Listening.com

Think in Themes, Not Tasks
Think in terms of themes rather than tasks. One year my theme for my fiction writing was to “boost my brag shelf.” In other words, get more stories published. Which of course meant I needed to write more stories. I then broke that need down into a measurable goal: submit at least one new story for publication each month that year. It was a great way to challenge myself with more structure, and for accountability and encouragement I posted my progress on one of my social channels. I submitted new stories 10 out of 12 months, had 6 stories accepted and 4 published that same year, with the others published within the following 18 months. I normally put a lot of pressure on myself. But with this approach, the numbers become the bonus — the nice-to-have piece that rolls up into a more qualitative idea that allows for grace, so you never have the feeling that if you falter you have failed. The effort you make toward the theme is success; the metrics mean only as much as you need to keep you going. - Michelle Mellon, Founder, CEO & Chief Storyteller, WordBird

Focus on Process, Not Outcome
One tip for crafting a realistic New Year’s resolution is to focus on the process rather than obsessing over the outcome. For example, my resolution last year and again this year is to not stress over losing weight. I learned that stress increases cortisol, which can actually prevent weight loss. Instead of fixating on the scale, I shifted my focus to small, enjoyable habits like daily walks and mindful eating, which naturally contribute to my overall well-being. The lesson here is to set goals that promote sustainability and self-compassion. By prioritizing progress over perfection, you’re more likely to stick to your resolution and enjoy the journey, not just the destination. - Rizala Carrington, CEO, MyGrowthAgent.com

Link Resolutions to Core Values
I’ve noticed that my therapy clients who succeed with resolutions usually link them to their core values rather than just picking popular goals. When working on my own resolution to improve work-life balance, I started by blocking off just one hour each Wednesday for family time, then gradually expanded it. I suggest picking a resolution that genuinely excites you, then starting so small it feels almost too easy — this builds momentum without triggering the anxiety and resistance that often derail our goals. - Caleb Simonyi-Gindele, Co-Founder, Therapevo Counselling Inc

Incorporate Real-Time Feedback
When setting New Year’s resolutions, I’ve found that incorporating real-time feedback and measurable progress can significantly boost commitment. In my experience leading the development of wearable health technology, we’ve seen how data-driven insights can transform user behavior. Users of our devices can visually track improvements in muscle oxygenation, giving them tangible proof of progress, which strengthens resolve. When I personally apply this principle to my goals, whether in fitness or professional growth, I create a system to regularly track and visualize progress. For instance, I use a simple chart to mark milestones, changing abstract goals into concrete achievements. This commitment to trackable progress helps maintain motivation throughout the year, much like athletes monitoring and responding to physiological data during training. Finally, implementing small, manageable intervals when pursuing goals, much like in interval training, can make long-term commitments less daunting. This approach helps incorporate change without overwhelming your daily routine, ultimately fostering a sustainable and resilient path to goal achievement. - David Thompson, Vice President Sales Marketing, NNOXX Inc

Align Resolutions with Skill Acquisition
One tip for crafting a realistic New Year’s resolution is to align it with skill acquisition, ensuring it serves a larger goal. During the pandemic, I realized that skills are the new currency. I focused on enhancing my abilities that matched current market demands, which can help one maintain motivation throughout the year. We emphasize personalized learning journeys to facilitate skill development. A similar approach can work for personal resolutions by breaking them down into manageable skill-building exercises. Think of a resolution as an evolving skill set, adapting to changes and emerging opportunities rather than a fixed endpoint. From my career experience, focus on one skill that will have a cascading effect on others by building a foundation. For instance, if you’re aiming to improve your career, mastering one relevant technology can often lead to more impactful advancements in your field, setting you up for sustained success. - Ahmad Elzahdan, Co-Founder & CEO, Audo

Create a Built-In Off-Ramp
My main advice for creating New Year’s resolutions that will last is to give yourself a built-in off-ramp. When making your resolution, be realistic about the time and energy that you have and acknowledge that you will most likely skip it at one point. For example, make a goal to go to the gym three times a week instead of every day. Another tip is to emphasize repetition rather than continuity. Try to aim for how many days in a row you can do a certain habit rather than every day since New Year’s. That way, you can go back to it once you skip it. - Dan Brown, CEO & Founder, Textun

Set SMART Goals for Success
Many people start the year motivated but quickly abandon their resolutions. To enhance success, it’s beneficial to set SMART goals — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For instance, instead of saying “increase sales,” a more effective resolution would be “increase monthly sales by 10% within the first quarter by implementing a customer referral program.” This structured approach promotes actionable and sustainable goals.
Mohammed Kamal, Business Development Manager, Olavivo