It’s New Year’s Eve, which means you’ve probably been bombarded with motivational videos claiming that next year is going to be the best year of your life. As you scroll through Instagram, you see all the girlies making vision boards and reflecting on their accomplishments, while you might not even remember which goals you set at the beginning of the year. Whether you like it or not, you’re probably feeling the pressure to set New Year’s resolutions, as though not doing so might jinx your whole year.
If you’re like me and get overwhelmed thinking about all the things you want to accomplish—only to end up listing random goals that are either unachievable or forgotten within two weeks—here is a simple, stress-free way to set goals your way. Stop copying what others are doing and use these lazy girl’s resolution-setting tips to start your year on the right note.
1. Ditch the All-or-Nothing Mindset
Many of you might decide not to set any goals for 2025 because you’re afraid you’ll feel bad if you don’t achieve them. While I get where you’re coming from, this mindset could be holding you back from reaching your potential. Goals don’t need to be huge, flashy achievements that feel impossible to accomplish in 365 days.
Instead, focus on small, manageable changes rather than drastic overhauls. For example, if you want to improve your fitness, swap out "go to the gym every day" for "walk for 15 minutes three times a week." If you want to read more, replace "read one book a week" with "read 10 pages a day."
2. Embrace the Power of Tiny Habits
Most people underestimate how much tiny habits can help build momentum and, over time, create a massive difference. The best thing about habits is that they eventually become second nature, allowing you to build on them. For example, you might start with “drink one glass of water first thing in the morning” and later progress to “drink one liter of water a day.”
Starting small and gradually increasing your habits makes them easier to implement and stick to, creating a sustainable path to achieving your goals.
3. Be Kind to Yourself
One of the worst things you can do is give up entirely on a goal the moment you feel like you’ve failed. Remember, when we set our goals, we’re often inspired, motivated, and excited, but life is full of ups and downs. Some days, you might not have the energy to hit the gym, but you could still go for a 30-minute walk.
The key to avoiding stress and feelings of failure is to adjust the intensity of your goals to match your current situation. Flexibility and self-compassion go a long way toward long-term success.
4. Focus on One Goal at a Time
Trying to tackle multiple big goals simultaneously is overwhelming and counterproductive. Instead, consider setting quarterly goals. This approach allows you to focus on one major goal each quarter, breaking it into smaller, more manageable tasks. These smaller tasks should work toward the big goal without feeling too daunting.
Example of a Quarterly Goal:
Goal: Read 4 books this quarter.
Why it works:
- Specific: Clearly defines the desired outcome (reading 4 books).
- Measurable: Easily trackable by counting the number of books read.
- Achievable: Reading 1 book per month is realistic for most people.
- Relevant: Aligns with a broader goal of improving reading habits or personal growth.
- Time-bound: Clearly defined timeframe (one quarter).
Other Examples:
Complete a home organization project:
- Organize the garage, attic, or basement.
- Declutter and reorganize a specific area, like the kitchen pantry or a closet.
- Digitize and organize all family photos.
These types of goals provide a sense of accomplishment and have definitive endpoints, preventing them from carrying over unnecessarily into the next quarter.
5. Set Meaningful Goals for the Year
I encourage you to set four goals for the year—one for each area of your life, such as fitness, relationships, business, and travel. Break these down into smaller, actionable steps you can take daily, weekly, or monthly.
Your goals should serve as a guideline for what you want your future life to look like. They should inspire growth without making you feel bad if you stumble along the way. Always strive to do your best, even if your best on some days is only 10%. Remember, you don’t have to give 100% every day to make progress.
By following these tips, you can embrace a relaxed yet effective approach to New Year’s resolutions. Here’s to achieving your goals without the grind—the lazy girl’s way!
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