A Revolution instead of New Year's Resolutions

7/1/2025

It is the beginning of a new year and traditionally we all thing of new years resolutions: things we want to do differently or achieve this year, things we will finally start or that we will at least finish.
What if instead of setting yourself up for almost certain failure by making a long list of new year's resolutions, you just chose one thing to focus on this year?

I myself have a lot of experience with setting new year's resolutions and consistently failing to do and achieve what I had planned at the beginning of the year.
It becomes demotivating over time because you know what will happen in the end. You also know that it's not because you're not trying hard enough, there's always a lot more that gets in the way, and it's not even a matter of choosing the wrong things to focus on because you really want to achieve everything on your new year's resolution list every year.
In fact, I think there's something different going on and I've decided to try something different this year that I'd like to share with you.

Let’s start from what I struggle with when it come to the list of new year's resolutions is:

First of all there is little or no consideration given to what is humanly possible in terms of time and resources and for this reason the number of resolutions is unlimited, the more the better, in many cases. Almost as if there was a secret hope that more resolutions would somehow increase the likelihood of achieving more resolutions.
In reality this attitude, even if well-intentioned, is unrealistic and therefore destined to create disappointment when most of the goals are not achieved. Often there is also a certain amount of pain and frustration due to the failed attempt to achieve those resolutions that in addition to hindering your well-being also put the achieved goals in the shadow of those that you did not achieve.

Secondly, the starting point of majority of the resolution is often the need to improve and correct the things that are wrong with you: losing weight is the classic example.
Let's not do it anymore!
Let's stop losing weight as a punishment and start gaining health, fitness and physical strength because we love ourselves. This applies to every resolution that has as its starting point that you should be different, better, more, etc..
The keyword to be wary of is "should"!
Let's enrich our life. Love yourselves as you are, instead of fixing what's wrong with you, because, truth be told, there is nothing wrong with you. It's just life testing you and giving you the opportunity to grow, learn and move forward.

A third important point is that resolutions often come from a sort of emotional outburst rather than a thoughtful plan to build something. The main problem is that we pile up micro tasks that don’t contribute to the bigger picture of our lives. This leads to our resolutions ending up feeling less important and less urgent to achieve because they’re scattered across different areas of our lives and often don’t seem to make much sense when you think about it. As we get older, this becomes less enjoyable and feels more like a waste of time and a missed opportunity to focus on the bigger dreams that I am sure you have.

Making a big enthusiastic list of resolutions scattered in different areas of life can also be a way of not taking full responsibility for your life and what you want to create in your life with your talents. This can work when you are really young, however, there comes a point where this is no longer a healthy choice. Only you can feel when you are approaching and then reaching this point.

What is the alternative I suggest instead?

I suggest, this year, you focus on one big resolution for the year ahead. Something that is important to you, something that fits into your life plan or your next step in your development and expansion.

When you decide to focus only on one big resolution you can more easily and effectively allocate resources to its results: time, money, coaching, etc. Whatever you feel you need.

When making any sort of decision in your life, you can use this one big enterprise for this year as a polar star: just ask yourself how what you are deciding about can contribute to the realisation of your 2025 project and allocate resources accordingly.
Deciding to focus on that one thing will inevitably mean that you decide not to do a number of other things. It can be difficult, however, if it is a thought through choice, it will feel right.

When you have a goal, you can start organizing your life around it and strategizing for the adjustments that can support reaching your big goal: setting aside time on a weekly basis, saving a certain amount per month, or whatever else you know you need.

This project will be a big thing that you will always remember as your great achievement for the year 2025. This is something so valuable within your life plan that this endeavor will motivate you to become a different person, the person who achieves this goal.

This year you will do other things, inevitably, however, this will become a kind of new identity and an improved version of yourself, the version that now accomplishes big important things, once a year.

I also have made my big plan for this year, I will reveal it later this year, regardless, I share this just to let you know that you will not be alone in working on your special plan this year.

To round up I would like to offer few practical tips to make it real, achievable and enjoyable:

1-         Make a plan and be clear about what you are going to do, within which timeline you intend to complete what and how you are going to do that: think of resources you need to allocate to realize your project;

2-        Set checking moments in your agenda. Be realistic, I wouldn’t do more than one checking moment a month. Decide upfront what you are going to check on and how to adjust in case things are not going as planned;

3-        Consider if you need external support that can be a specialist coaching you or a friend as a buddy keeping you focused, you decide and take action on it. You don’t need to do this alone;

4-   Eliminate other projects, big plan or enterprise for this year. This is key to creating the space you need to put your energy into your one big project for this year;

5-        Decide upfront how you are going to celebrate your success at the end of the year. Tick something off your bucket list for the occasion.

Lara Briozzo

My passion and inquisitive nature into what moves people, have brought me to coaching and psychotherapy.
I believe that every person has the inner ability to make themselves happier, more fulfilled and whole.

A Revolution instead of New Year's Resolutions

Lara Briozzo

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