New year new me?
Why your new years resolutions are bound to fail or burn you out.
And how you can change it!
You’re already familiar with the fact that January first doesn’t change anything. You’re aware of the years past where people say they’re going to do ____, only to fall off in a matter of weeks/months. So what actually makes a new you in the new year? How can you truly accomplish your goals, and do so without feeling burned out by the end of the year?
Here’s something important to consider…
Grabbing cocktails on New Years Eve, photographed on 35mm film.
Much of 2025 for me involved uprooting and a whole lot of change. What started as my husband’s job leaving him high and dry as the company suddenly filed for bankruptcy, then turned into an entire year of us releasing old beliefs and mindsets, all while beginning to pursue things we never thought we would. Then in the final quarter, there were relationships we had to move on from, new ones that began forming, and new habits and systems that began to be put into place.
As we now sit, reflect and pray about our year, we can see so clearly that all of it was preparation for what we are going to steward and accomplish in this next year/season. I should also note, a lot of the things we saw great success in this year is because of preparation in the season before this one.
Reflecting on this made me realize… this is such a key thing that I so rarely hear people talk about when it comes time to list out your goals for the new year and create your vision board.
Before any major successful change there is always preparation. It’s easy to jump into our goals, motivated by the excitement of what feels like a “fresh start". This tends to lead to two things - either burnout by the end of your year, or falling off altogether, unable to see your plans through.
So what type of preparation is needed to accomplish your new years resolutions?
You need to prepare your mindset and beliefs, your habits, and your systems.
“The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital.”
If you want to accomplish your new years resolutions so you can truly say it was a “new year, new me” at the end of 2026, here are three steps to prepare you…
What to prioritize first in order to reach your goals:
First: Recognize that a January 1st date doesn’t actually mean anything, and you are not behind - you have time.
Second: Get honest with yourself about how you think and operate. What has gotten in your way in the past? Are you lacking any particular skills? What is your thought life like? Do you have habits you need to change or get rid of? Do you have the right people surrounding you to support you? And most importantly… what is your big WHY for going after these goals? It has to be something meaningful that will fuel you all year long, even when you’re discouraged or tired.
Third: According to what comes up when you investigate the second point, adjust what needs to be adjusted. Set reminders and alarms, journal, talk through things with a trusted person or go to therapy. Putting into place the small foundational things is going to be how you conquer the big things!
If you take some time to first prepare, then by this time next year you’ll have the satisfaction of having accomplished your goals!
“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.”