100 New Year Resolutions that you can actually keep.
2025 is here!
This year, instead of vague, lofty promises, I’ve created 100 resolutions you can actually keep. These aren’t about the perfect grand goals – they’re about tiny, achievable actions that add up to real progress.
They’re based on science and my own trial-and-error
From career goals to health, family, and even creativity, these ideas are specific, doable, and even a little fun. No pressure, no guilt – just a fresh approach to starting the year off right. So let’s dive in.
The top 100 New Year's Resolutions
Career Goals
- Write down the one task I must do each morning before work
- Update resume monthly with recent accomplishments.
- Spend 10 minutes learning a new skill weekly.
- Write one message per week networking with a colleague or mentor.
- Organize your desk every Friday before leaving work.
- Save one new thing you learned “resources” folder each week.
- Read one professional article or blog post daily.
- Set a timer for 25 minutes to focus on one task without distraction.
- Take a 5-minute break every hour to stretch or reset during work hours.
- Volunteer for one small project outside your usual tasks per month.
Health Goals
- Drink one extra glass of water daily.
- Add one vegetable to your plate at lunch or dinner.
- Stretch for 5 minutes every morning.
- Go for a 10-minute walk during your lunch break.
- Do one push-up or sit-up daily, adding one each week till failure.
- Replace one sugary snack with a fruit or nut option.
- Spend one evening per week cooking a meal.
- Set a bedtime alarm to remind yourself to wind down for the day.
- Floss one tooth each night and increase until it’s a habit.
- Replace soda with sparkling water during one meal/week.
Family Goals
- Call one family member each week.
- Schedule one family game or movie night monthly.
- Spend 10 minutes talking with your kids about their day without distractions.
- Write a thank-you note to a family member every quarter.
- Organize a small family outing like a walk or picnic every month.
- Cook one meal together as a family weekly.
- Spend one weekend decluttering the house.
- Celebrate a small family win with a treat monthly.
- Start a family gratitude jar and add one note weekly.
- Share one positive memory from the past with your family every week.
Financial Goals
- Track one expense category each week.
- Save $5 in a separate account daily.
- Cancel one unused subscription this month.
- Set up an automatic transfer to savings biweekly.
- Review your bank statements for 15 minutes monthly.
- Read one personal finance article weekly.
- Use a cashback or rewards app once a week.
- Pack lunch instead of eating out once per week.
- Spend 10 minutes comparing prices before making a purchase.
- Set a goal to pay off one debt incrementally over the next six months.
Social Goals
- Send one “just checking in” text to a friend weekly.
- Schedule coffee or lunch with a friend monthly.
- Join one local club or group activity.
- Spend 10 minutes engaging with a community cause online.
- Say “yes” to one social invitation this month.
- Attend one networking or social event quarterly.
- Compliment one person genuinely each day.
- Write one card or letter to someone you appreciate every two months.
- Learn one new thing about a friend or colleague weekly.
- Share one positive review or feedback online for any business you like monthly.
Personal Growth Goals
- Read one page of a book daily.
- Journal for 3 minutes each evening.
- Meditate for 1 minute daily, adding 30 seconds weekly.
- Listen to one inspiring podcast episode weekly.
- Write down one thing you’re grateful for every morning.
- Try one new hobby or activity every quarter.
- Spend 10 minutes weekly reviewing personal wins.
- Learn one new word or phrase in another language daily.
- Dedicate 5 minutes weekly to planning a dream vacation.
- Set aside 10 minutes monthly to declutter your phone or email inbox.
Environmental Goals
- Bring a reusable water bottle daily.
- Reduce your meat consumption by one meal per week.
- Spend 10 minutes researching a local eco-friendly practice or event monthly.
- Pick up 1 piece of trash during your daily walk.
- Turn off lights when leaving a room.
- Use reusable bags for one grocery trip weekly.
- Compost kitchen scraps one day per week.
- Spend 10 minutes monthly learning about sustainable products.
- Reduce single-use plastics by choosing alternatives once a week.
- Add one plant to your home this month.
Creativity Goals
- Draw or sketch for 5 minutes weekly.
- Write one paragraph of a story or idea each day.
- Experiment with one new recipe monthly.
- Take one photo of something that inspires you daily.
- Spend 10 minutes experimenting with a new app or software.
- Try one DIY or craft project every quarter.
- Write a poem, even if just two lines, weekly.
- Create a vision board with images of your dreams.
- Watch one inspiring documentary or creative content monthly.
- Decorate one area of your home with personal artwork.
Mindset Goals
- Write down one affirmation every morning.
- Take one deep breath before responding to a stressful situation.
- Compliment yourself on one achievement daily.
- Spend 10 minutes weekly reflecting on challenges overcome.
- Reframe one negative thought into a positive perspective daily.
- Read one motivational quote before starting your day.
- Spend 5 minutes visualizing a future goal weekly.
- Laugh out loud at least once weekly (find a joke, show, or memory).
- Accept one imperfection or mistake without judgment weekly.
- Pause for one moment of mindfulness during a routine task daily.
Other Goals
- Spend 10 minutes researching one topic of curiosity weekly.
- Try a new route or method for your daily commute monthly.
- Declutter one small drawer or shelf weekly.
- Organize one personal photo album quarterly.
- Write one review for a product you use monthly.
- Spend 10 minutes playing with a pet or child daily.
- Donate one item you no longer need monthly.
- Set a timer to disconnect from technology for 15 minutes daily.
- Volunteer 30 minutes for a local cause monthly.
- Take one “me day” quarterly to recharge.
What you need to know about New Year resolutions
January 1st: “New Year, New Me!”
January 15th: “Who left this dirty gym bag in the corner? Oh, it’s mine. Wait, I have a gym bag…?”
Every January, we declare war on our flaws: new year, new me. By February? New year, same story.
Every year, we start Jan with big dreams, vowing this year will be different.
But it’s usually not.
Let’s talk about why. Here are four truths about why our new year resolutions tend to fizzle:
Why it’s so hard to complete New Year resolutions?
Truth 1: Resolutions are too vague.
“I’ll get healthy!” Great idea, but…what does that mean? A salad once a month? Drinking water instead of soda once? Walking your dog once a week
Without clarity, these lofty goals become more confusing than motivating. In 90% of the studies, specific and challenging goals led to higher performance than easy goals
Truth 2: We often rely on willpower instead of creating an environment that supports our goals
If you think of willpower like a phone battery—limited and quick to drain—why do you expect you can resist temptation after a long workday, staring at a fridge full of snacks?
Truth 3: Unrealistic expectations crush us.
Going from zero workouts a year to six a week sounds noble—but also impossible. Setting the bar that high usually ends in frustration (and a very expensive gym membership you forget to cancel).
Based on this study, setting very high goals can lead to failure, which harms self-esteem and motivation.
Truth 4: “All-or-nothing” thinking ruins progress.
Miss one workout? Skip one day of journaling? Suddenly, we convince ourselves we’ve failed entirely. Next thing you know, you’re three seasons deep into a Netflix show instead of logging miles.
Based on this study, harsh self-judgment and fear of failure lead to poor progress on goals because it reduces motivation
The solution.
Set Micro Goals
Instead of saying, “I’ll read 50 books this year,” how about, “I’ll read one page before bed tonight”? It’s achievable, doesn’t spark existential dread, and you can actually feel proud when you close the book without drooling on it.
Tiny, consistent actions snowball into major wins. Think of it as leveling up in a game—every little XP point counts. (Shoutout to Atomic Habits.)
Focus on Systems, Not Outcomes
“I’ll lose 20 pounds this year!” Sure, but how?
Instead, build a system like “I’ll meal prep every Sunday.” Systems take the stress out of the equation and give you a roadmap.
Track Progress, Not Perfection
Miss a day? Congratulations, you’re human!
We often focus too much on having to do things at the exact same time on the same day each week, as if missing that moment means we’ve failed and won’t reach our goal.
But that’s not the best way to pursue a new habit. The key is progress, no matter when you read that book—whether it’s at 9 a.m. or 8 p.m. As long as you’re reading, you’re making progress and on the right track to achieve your goal.
Progress is about showing up.
Treat every small milestone like slaying a mini-boss in your personal quest
My story about the New Year resolutions
There was a time when I set so many New Year’s resolutions that I couldn’t remember them all – let alone follow through. The result? By February, I couldn’t even recall what I had set out to achieve
I tried a new approach: I ditched the laundry list of resolutions and focused on setting a big vision instead. Think: find my passion, start my startup, and stay healthy. Broad goals that would motivate me without overwhelming me.
Then I broke down that vision into small, actionable micro-goals. For example, in my quest to “find my passion,” I knew I had to try new things. I experimented like crazy – violin lessons, DJing, YouTube, TikTok, acting. Each attempt taught me something about myself, and eventually, it all led me to where I am today: building my own startup.
It wasn’t about a perfect path. It was about systems—creating a process that helped me move forward every day. I learned to focus on what I could control daily, like “spend 15 minutes practicing something new” instead of setting grand, vague goals and leaving it there
If I missed a day, no problem. I just picked up where I left off. The key was consistency over perfection.
So this year, you may want to forget the giant resolutions. Instead, set your big vision, break it into bite-sized actions, and let your daily systems do the heavy lifting. You’ll be surprised how far you can go when you focus on progress, not perfection. 🙂
Final thoughts on these New Year Goals
This year, take a small step, stick with it, and let the magic of consistency do its thing. No need for sweeping transformations overnight – just a commitment to show up, even if it’s just for two minutes at a time.
Remember: by December 31st, it’s the little, deliberate actions that stack up and surprise you. So, whether it’s drinking more water or finally learning how to write “konichiwa,” start small and stay the course.
And hey, if it all falls apart? At least you can sleep soundly knowing your unused gym membership is making someone else’s New Year dream come true 😉
And the great way to stay on track for a goal is to have an assistant that reminds you about the actions, and tasks you should take daily. We built that kind of assistant on Saner.AI 🙂 Check it out now, it’s free