Setting new years resolutions is likely something you have done at least once or twice in your lifetime. The new year rolls around and you feel inspired and motivated to reflect on the current state of your life and work towards all the things that have been floating around in your head throughout the year. So you sit down and you make an ambitious list of all the things you want to work towards in your personal life, your school life, your work life, your relationships, your friendships, etc. You’re ready to conquer the new year.

Then a couple weeks pass and it’s nearly the end of January, maybe even February, and you realize that you haven’t done much to work towards the ambitious goals you’ve set for yourself. Maybe you’ve even forgotten what exactly your resolutions even are. You look back at your list and laugh at some of the goals you’ve written down. Maybe you even feel overwhelmed at the thought of starting some of your resolutions.

So are making New Year’s resolutions even helpful?

They can be!

New Year’s resolutions can definitely be helpful. Sitting down to write them out gives you an opportunity to reflect on the past year, the things that you want to keep in the upcoming year, and maybe the things you want to move away from or let go of. They can help you to have a clearer picture of how you want to spend your time and energy, as well as what it is that you’re wanting to work towards.

However, there are a couple things that can often get in the way of you completing your resolutions.

1. The resolutions you make are overly ambitious.

Of course it’s not a bad thing to have ambitions and to dream big, but it’s also important to be realistic so that those ambitions can actually be achieved.

2. You don’t revisit your resolutions from time to time.

If the only time you review your resolutions is on the day you make them, it’s understandable that they would eventually slip away from your memory. How can you remember an entire list of goals that you only take a look at once at the start of the year?

Here’s what you can do to make New Year’s resolutions actually be helpful.

1. Make your resolutions specific and realistic.

Resolutions often never come to fruition because of how big and vague they are. Think specifically about what you are wanting to achieve, break it down into smaller, achievable steps, and make those steps your resolutions. If you’re wanting to eat healthier this year, what do you need to do to make that achievable? Do you need to meal prep once a week? Write out a grocery list before you go to the store? What does healthier mean to you? Another example might be, if you’re wanting to take prioritize your mental health this year, what specifically comes to mind? Does that mean acknowledging and honoring your boundaries in your relationships? Does that mean not constantly working past your expected hours? Could it mean starting therapy for the first time or having therapy be a part of your weekly routine again? Get specific about what mental health means to you.

2. Revisit your resolutions regularly.

It will likely be close to impossible to remember your list of resolutions if you don’t revisit them from time to time. Think about how often you know you’d need to revisit your list in order to hold them loosely in the back of your mind. For some, this might be once a week. For others, it might be once a month. However often it might be for you, create a rhythm of revisiting your resolutions every so often.

3. Adjust your game plan as needed.

As you work towards your goals, you might find that certain ones need to be re-strategized. Maybe they aren’t as specific as you need them to be. Or maybe as you’ve started working towards them, you’re finding that they need to be broken down into smaller steps. Again, it’s important that your resolutions are specific and realistic – a part of that might be having to adjust your approach to achieving them throughout the year.

So yes, New Year’s resolutions can definitely be helpful! Remember that you’re making these resolutions to continue growing as a person, versus working towards perfection.

It can be common to find it difficult to set your goals and intentions for the year, especially if you’re feeling sad or anxious. If you’re finding this to be the case, please reach out for support. Therapy is the place where you can process these feelings, making it possible for you to achieve the goals and intentions you have for yourself.