New Year, New Me?
Written By : Grace Weidenhamer
During New Years, it’s easy to get caught up in the spirit of resolutions, goal setting, routine building, and the “new year, new me” mindset. Yet, every year, we seem to fall off the wagon as our initial inspiration starts to fade, wondering if this year is “new year, same you.”
You can vision board, drink your moon water, or eat your grapes under the table all you want, but rituals and superstitions can only take you so far. Is this the year you actually stick to your resolutions, or will you fall back into the same old patterns?
To truly stick to the plan and stay focused this year, you need to turn inspiration into aligned action.
My problem is that I have too many ideas and too many things on my to-do list. I try to do too much at one; make too many changes. Shockingly, that’s not maintainable. Too many changes at one time may seem like the way to really turn your life around, but it usually results in burning out... hard.
The thing about achieving your dream life is that it’s the actual opposite of what social media tells us. Everything online is instantaneous. We see influencers online living their “best lives” and making it seem effortless. So we think, if I recreate their routine, my life will look like theirs! “Just post the video and your life will change!” Sorry to break it to ya - for most of us, it doesn’t work like that.
Goals need to be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. Instead of “I want more money”, your goal should be to save $1,000 by June 1. Smart! Now, you must set up a way to hold and keep track of the money you are saving. Measurable! If you are currently looking for a job or are paying off loans, maybe that time-frame isn’t achievable. Make sure your goal aligns with your values. Why do you want more money? What do you think that will give you? For example: “I want more money so that I can have more freedom and time to spend with friends and family.” Relevant. You can’t expect instant gratification or success. You’ll probably experience setbacks before you even get close to reaching your goal. Give yourself time to make this possible, physically and mentally. Timely.
Align your mindset with what you want to physically achieve. You’ll succeed if you 100% believe you will succeed, as long as you are also taking actionable steps towards your goals.
It’s going to be tough at some points, especially when you aren’t seeing progress in the way you may have expected. If something out of your control comes up, reframe your goals, edit your timeline, and adapt to the circumstances. As long as you keep your eye on the prize, you can be flexible and still stay aligned with what you want.
2026 is the year of focusing on you - not what anyone else thinks, not how anyone else perceives you, not what other people say is “right.” Your growth is entirely in your control, and at the end of the day, it’s up to you.
If I could just give one piece of advice, it's this: don’t try to do more than you can handle. Protect your peace and understand that good things take time.