Ever since I can remember, I’ve been making ‘New Year’s Resolutions’. I’m pretty sure I made a new year’s resolution to study more when I was 7 (Asian genes). In fact, I made ‘new year’s resolutions’ multiple times throughout the year.
The sad thing is, not once do I remember ever succeeding at any resolution. Not a single one.
New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work
I’ve made over-the-top ones like:
- I’m going to visit 20 countries this year (hasn’t happened yet).
- I’m going to find the love of my life this year! (didn’t happen that year)
- I’m going to be beautiful (Huh? How do you even decide to ‘be beautiful’? Don’t ask me. I obviously failed)
And I’ve made supposedly easy resolutions like:
- I’m going to exercise 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes each time
- I’m going to eat healthy
- I’m going to make 3 new friends each month this year.
Obviously I failed at those as well.
(not necessarily true)
I bet I’m not the only one though.
You, yes you reading this article.
Have you ever succeeded at any new year’s resolution for longer than a month?
A better alternative to new year’s resolutions
It took me 40 years to figure out, but this year, I’ve ditched the new year’s resolution.
Instead, I’m taking a leaf from David at Raptitude.com (He’s an awesome thinker and writer by the way, you should really sign up to his email list) and making 2 lists instead:
- One list for a few things I want to do more of this year, and
- One list for a few things I want to do less of this year
It’s simple, it’s easy to remember, and the best part is, you can ‘fail’ multiple times and still keep doing them. Unlike failing a new year’s resolution where you throw your hands up and say ‘It’s too hard! I give up!’, failing to ‘do what you want to do more of’ only means you didn’t do it this time. There’s always next time and there’s always tomorrow.
Having these lists also help you identify the kind of life you aspire to lead and to move yourself, an inch at a time, in the right direction.
It’s about 1% gains. The more you do the things you want to do more of and the less you do the things you want to do less of, the more your life changes for the better.
My do more/do less lists for 2025
I want to do more of these things:
- spend more time meditating
- spend more time on self-care
- spend more quality time with my children
- spend more time ‘in-the-present’, appreciating life.
- be more beautiful (just kidding!)
I want to do less of these things:
- spend less time ruminating
- spend less time online shopping
- spend less time checking my side hustle stats
- spend less time multitasking.
What’s on your list?
Chief Blogger at The Sensual Mom
I am a mom of 2 bossy toddlers. I breastfed both and struggled through all the usual breastfeeding issues. Now I give nursing moms the info you need to make good decisions during your breastfeeding journey.
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