Tired of making New Year’s Resolutions?

Are you a faithful resolution maker or a staunch anti-resolution person? It seems like fewer and fewer people are making traditional resolutions, mainly because they seem almost impossible to stick with for a whole year which is discouraging and disheartening. In the spirit of encouraging personal growth and living with intention, we’ve found 5 alternatives to resolutions to help you become the person you want to be in the new year!

1. Choose a Word for the Year

Think of what you want your year to look like and pick a word or a theme to use as a guide for your decision-making in the new year. Some great options are: “courage,” “balance,” “adventure,” or “connection.” Once you choose your word, put reminders around your living space to keep it top of mind. You could use good old post-it notes on your bathroom mirror, or get creative and make art to remind yourself of your intentions for the year. You could set alarms on your phone, write reminders on your calendar or in your planner, and enlist your friends and family to help you incorporate more of your desired word into your life. 

2. Embrace a 30-Day Challenge

When it comes right down to it, what you’re trying to do when you set a resolution is change existing habits or build new ones. A 30-Day challenge can be just the thing to help you with that! Choose a habit or activity to commit to for 30 days, such as Bible reading, journaling, drinking more water, or organizing your home. Find a calendar online to follow or make your own to keep you on track. Feel free to plan multiple challenges through the year, tackling your growth in small, manageable steps instead of one big resolution.

3. Focus on Self-Compassion

Instead of setting hard-to-reach goals, focus on being kinder and more forgiving with yourself, particularly when you face setbacks or challenges. Self-compassion reduces the pressure of perfectionism and encourages growth from a place of acceptance rather than self-criticism. Plan activities that nurture your physical, mental, and emotional well-being, such as prayer, rest, or spending time in nature. A great book to get you in this mind-set is Try Softer by Aundi Kolber.

4. Embrace a Year of Learning

Commit to learning something new each month (a new cooking method, a hobby, or about a topic of interest) or setting up a personal development plan. Focusing on learning rather than accomplishing rigid goals keeps things fresh and flexible. You can pursue growth through curiosity. Make a book list or a calendar of topics that interest you and add to it through the year. You’ll find that learning new things will lead you to other topics you find interesting, too!

5. Reassess Regularly

Make a plan to check in with yourself regularly on what habits you’ve changed or grown and what progress you’ve made towards change. Start a journal where you track small (or large) wins daily, so when you have these times of reflection you remember clearly the differences you’ve seen in your daily life. This shift toward celebrating progress, no matter how small, helps you stay motivated and positive.

By trying one of these alternatives, you can make the start of 2025 feel like a fresh opportunity without the pressure of “resolving” to do something specific. This approach can create lasting, meaningful change in a way that’s personal and sustainable. Which one do you think you’ll try?