A new year begins, and with it, the promise of a “new me.” But is change really that simple? Every January, we make the same familiar promises to save money, read more and exercise consistently, placing a surprising amount of faith in the catalytic power of the countdown. However, if we want these changes in our lives, why can’t we just decide to be better on a random Wednesday in April? Why do we wait for the clock to strike midnight on Dec. 31?
Personally, I love both the motivation the new year fosters and the shared sense of momentum toward self-improvement that becomes important to us all. Of course, we should look to better ourselves year-round; however, I don’t see anything wrong with using this clean slate as a pivoting point to change bad habits. Whatever it takes to make a positive change in your life shouldn’t be viewed as a negative bandwagoning trend, but rather as a jumping off point for the life you want to live.
To kick off 2025, I began with the following resolutions: to photograph my life more, save money, stop trash-talking and kick my phone addiction. I didn’t want my resolutions to be vague promises that would be forgotten by February, so I approached them intentionally. Instead of relying on motivation alone, I focused on building structure into each goal. This approach is supported by Baylor University psychology experts, who explain that using structured goal-setting methods provides direction, helps measure progress and increases the likelihood that resolutions will succeed long-term.
In order to complete my resolutions, I created a realistic step-by-step plan I knew I could follow to achieve each goal. This structure led to a very successful 2025, ending with the full completion of all my resolutions. I now have a great analog of the life I’ve lived this past year and successfully developed an aversion to doom scrolling. That shift showed up in small, everyday choices: reaching for my camera instead of my phone, setting limits around screen time and becoming more aware of moments of distraction that could have been moments of intention overall.. None of these changes were drastic, but together, they reshaped my routine and helped me make the changes in my life I’d been striving toward.
As we approach the end of January 2026, I’ve found myself less successful in completing my resolutions. Whether this is due to the stress of a new semester, a lapse in discipline or any number of excuses doesn’t matter. What does matter is understanding how much weight we place on these goals. I feel it’s important to have something to strive for but not to let its success be detrimental to your growth.
Many experts say that when people set goals that do not succeed at first, they quickly become discouraged and give up because progress feels too slow or unattainable. According to Psychology Today, “an over‑ambitious life plan can also prove to be a trap. This is the case when the goals pursued are unattainable,” which is why most people say that New Year’s resolutions are pointless and have an overall net negative impact on our growth. Although my resolutions are not quite coming to a head yet, I’m still more conscious of how I act, spend my time and treat the people around me. Progress isn’t always linear, and slipping up doesn’t erase the intention behind setting a goal in the first place. The value of resolutions isn’t only in whether they’re fully achieved by the end of the year but in the awareness they create — and that awareness alone changes us for the better in small but meaningful ways.
If your goals don’t always succeed, you’re starting the year mindfully at the very least, with intentional reflection on your actions (a habit that’s always worth practicing). So, if you haven’t already, take a minute to sit down, grab a pen and start your list. If putting thoughts on paper isn’t your style, try visualizing them instead. A Pinterest board, vision board or even a series of notes on your phone can work just as well. The important part isn’t how you organize your goals, it’s that you start somewhere with intention and give yourself a real chance to make this year different.
Caydence Jones, FCRH ‘29, is a journalism major from Easton, Pennsylvania.
