The Feel Good Way

Right before the new year, everything feels new and possible, like you’re staring at a fresh blank page. And as always, that one question comes up once more.:

“So… what are your New Year’s resolutions?”

Some people proudly list theirs. Others laugh and say, “Why bother? I never keep them anyway.” And honestly? Many of us secretly feel the same. We start with the best intentions — more exercise, less stress, healthier habits, new routines — but somehow, somewhere between January 1st and, let’s be real, mid-February… things fall apart.

But here’s the truth:
New Year’s resolutions aren’t really about willpower. They’re about setting goals — real, meaningful, personal goals that give direction to your year.

And that’s where most resolutions go wrong.

We set resolutions because we feel we should. Because everyone else is doing it. Because it’s tradition. Because it’s the end of the year and we feel pressured to change everything overnight.

But goals — real goals — don’t work like that.

Goals only stick when they’re yours, when they matter deeply, when you understand why you want them and how you’ll get there. They stick when they excite you more than they scare you. They stick when they’re small enough to feel doable but big enough to feel meaningful.

Here are 5 tips to help you reach your goals :

1. Make your goal personal.
Do it because you want to, not because everyone else is doing it.
For example, joining “Tournée Minérale” just because others are joining isn’t a real personal goal. But doing it because you want to feel healthier or to support a charity is a good, meaningful reason.

2. Don’t choose too many goals.
If you set too many goals at once, you’ll feel overwhelmed and quit.
Stick to 1 to 3 goals so you can focus and succeed.

3. Find the sweet spot: not too easy, not too hard.
It’s great to have big dreams, but your goals should be small and doable.
If they are too hard you will you give up. Too easy and you will lose motivation.
Choose goals that challenge you just enough.

4. Be specific.
Avoid vague goals.
You need to know exactly what success looks like.
“Get healthier” is too general.
“Walk 7,000 steps a day” is clear.

5. Use a high–low range.
Give yourself a flexible range instead of one fixed target.
For example:
“I will go to the gym 3 to 5 times a week” is easier to stick to than “I will go 4 times a week.”
The more realistic and flexible your goals are, the more confident you’ll feel about reaching them.

Ready to begin?

As soon as you set your goal, take your first step right away.
Create a small to-do list and make sure you can already tick off one or two items.

For example, if your goal is to go to the gym 3–5 times a week, your list might include blocking time in your agenda, sign up for a membership, or tell someone close to you about your goal. This will give you an instant head start.

So when someone asks,
“What are your New Year’s resolutions?”
you can answer knowing you’ve chosen goals you can actually stick to.

Because this year isn’t about pressure.
It’s about direction.
It’s about choosing what you want — and giving yourself the chance to grow into it.

A new year is opening in front of you.
Make it yours.

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If you want to get the full story behind this post, listen to the podcast by Mell Robbins, download her free workbook (it really is free!). I love Mell Robbins, maybe you will start to love her too!

Image is AI generated.