2025 is here, bringing new beginnings and new goals. How are you choosing your resolutions this year? Is it based on what you truly want for yourself? Is it based on what you think you “should” be doing? Over the years, we’ve posted several blogs about setting goals and following through on them. One of the hardest things many people face is maintaining their goals. Depending on circumstances– mood, weather, or external stressors – any number of things can get in the way of us implementing our goals. So, how can you ensure you keep going and thrive in 2025?
Here are some ideas:
Think about intentions and desires: Take a moment to visualize things that you would want for yourself without self-censoring. This is an excellent opportunity to dream big and consider how you want your life to look this coming year. Write down on a piece of paper what you envision your life to look like by the end of the year. Truly create a strong picture for yourself.
Ask yourself why? One thing that can help people stick to their goals is to consider one’s reasoning for doing something. If our “why” isn’t very strong, that means the goal might not be as motivating.
Take it day by day: Your “best” each day will vary. Give yourself some grace, freedom, and flexibility to accept that some days you might not work toward that goal, and that’s okay. The key is to not simply give up on the goal if you miss a day (or two or three) and to refrain from being harsh on yourself for it. It can be easy to get caught up in the fact that we missed our workout, or we didn’t eat healthy one day, so then we simply give up. This negative thought pattern derails us and does not benefit us. Show yourself compassion and kindness instead of berating yourself. As soon as you can resume, get back to working toward your goal without judgment.
Learn to tune into your needs: This can be especially challenging for caretakers, who often prioritize the needs of others and put themselves on the back burner. Start to pay attention to your internal signals. When one starts to feel irritable, frustrated, overwhelmed, or agitated, this often means some internal need is not being met.
Break things into small chunks: Change can feel extremely overwhelming, even when it’s a change we want. When you want to start something new, consider ways that you can break your goal into small, manageable chunks rather than attempting to tackle everything at once. For example, if your goal is to be healthier, consider first if you want to start with your diet, exercise, mental health, or visiting your doctor. Attempting to engage in all those steps simultaneously might be too overwhelming. Choose one focus to begin with, and then add the others in as you see success.
Practice presence and gratitude: Taking a few minutes each day to recognize things we are grateful for can greatly shift our mood and overall well-being. We often spend time “in our heads” overthinking or scrolling/watching a screen and “checked out.” Challenge yourself to find time to be “in the moment” and focus on the people in front of you rather than reaching for a device or getting lost in thought.
Every day, we have the opportunity to make changes that can improve our lives. Even the smallest changes can make a huge impact. If you find something is working to aid you in your success, do your best to maintain it. Remember, each day presents choices that can help you thrive in 2025
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” Maya Angelou
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