How to Set Resolutions You'll Actually Keep

I love New Year’s—the fresh-start energy, vision boards, and manifestation journaling that make January feel full of hope and possibility. But as a health coach, I also know the uncomfortable truth behind all that optimism: more often than not, people set goals they never reach. According to U.S. News & World Report, 80 percent of resolutions fail. So what separates the 20 percent who actually follow through?

Every January 1, we declare #newyearnewme. So how do we make sure that 2026 will really be “our year,” the year where we become happier, feel our best, and are more fulfilled in our careers? The answer: change your approach. After helping dozens of women turn their intentions into real, lasting change, I’ve learned what works when it comes to goal-setting and goal-keeping. Here are 13 foolproof hacks that will help you beat the odds and finally achieve the resolutions you set. Trust me—2026 will be impressed.

1. Get crystal clear on your “why”

You may already have your resolutions (and if not, here’s some inspo), but do you know why you want to set those resolutions? The first step to holding yourself accountable is putting meaning behind your goals. For example, “going to the gym every day” or “getting a raise” are fine resolutions, but you need to look at the bigger-picture goal as well. Why do you want to go to the gym every day? Is it to be stronger, feel more confident, or live longer? What about getting a raise: Do you want to be more financially independent or feel valued by your company? If you’re not going into it with your “why” in mind, the surface-level goal will never feel motivating enough to last until 2027. Make sure you’re consistently reminded of why you care about achieving the goals you set.

Take some time to reflect or journal about why accomplishing this goal is important to you and how it will make a difference in your life. Months from now, when the newness of resolutions wears off, you won’t be thinking, “I have to wake up at 7 a.m. to exercise.” You’ll be thinking, “I want to wake up at 7 a.m. to exercise because it makes me feel so much happier and healthier throughout the day.”

2. Break your goals into smaller wins throughout the year

“Losing weight,” “running a marathon,” or “reading 100 books” are far-off goals that will leave you disappointed and unmotivated. When we set big yearly goals without having a day-to-day plan of how to crush them, we often forget about them by summertime. A 2015 UCLA study found that people think of their future selves as strangers, which is why we procrastinate homework or put off saving for retirement. Avoid the trap by breaking your future objectives into micro goals you can accomplish more immediately. Break down big resolutions into smaller, more specific goals throughout each season, month, or even week.

If you want to read 100 books by 2027, make the target eight to nine books per month, and then make a weekly target to achieve that. If you want to get healthier in 2026, start each week or each month with the goals you want to accomplish: fit in four workouts in a week, lift 10 extra pounds than last month, or add greens to two meals a day. By the end of the week or month, you’ll feel accomplished, which naturally fuels motivated to aim higher next. Progress is a snowball effect—once you accomplish a little bit, it builds more momentum. One win makes the next feel easier.

3. Make your environment work for you

Treat your resolutions like work meetings or appointments: Always prepare what you need in advance. If you work out in the mornings, lay out all your clothes next to your bed, untie your sneakers, and fill up a water bottle. Preparation works for nutrition goals, too: Meal prep makes it much less likely for you to resort to takeout after a busy workday or snack on unhealthy choices. If you want to have a better morning routine, set your coffee maker the night before, make your bed, and review your to-do list. Also curate your home to make it easy to stick to habits that make you feel good: keep your blender in an accessible spot, display healthier cookbooks on the shelves, leave your yoga mat out, and turn your bedroom into a relaxing oasis if you want to get more sleep this year. Having everything ready not only makes the action easier, but it will put you in the mindset that the action will happen.

“Progress is a snowball effect—once you accomplish a little bit, it builds more momentum. One win makes the next feel easier.”

4. Try something different

You know the quote, “The definition of insanity is to do the same things and expect different results,” right? That applies to improving your life. If your resolution is to change jobs, what do you intend to do differently this year to get to that resolution? What habits do you have now that are holding you back from that resolution? Maybe you tend to lose two to three hours each night watching TV or scrolling on social media that could be spent fluffing up your resume or making connections on LinkedIn. Take a hard look at how you’re spending your time and block out space for skill-building, job hunting, or networking in your industry. What we water grows, so realistically update your routine to reflect your new priorities.

5. Schedule checkpoints

Stay on track throughout the year by scheduling regular checkpoints. Depending on your timeline, these can be weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Because you’ve defined what success looks and feels for you, you’ll have clear metrics to measure your progress and spot what needs adjusting. If your resolution is to save $5,000 for a vacation at the end of 2026, check your progress monthly. Have you been depositing $417 each month into your savings? Do you need to make any changes to your budget to help you stay on track (think: eat out less)? Built-in check-ins give you permission to celebrate victories and reward yourself or pivot when things aren’t working. Either way, having a schedule in place makes hitting your December 31 goal far more likely.

6. Enlist an accountability buddy

Do you have a friend, significant other, roommate, or work wife with resolutions of their own? Make them your accountability partner. Exchange healthy recipes, swap motivational quotes, and check in on each other’s progress. You don’t have to have the same resolutions to motivate each other, but shared activities can help. Go to a yoga class together or set weekly FaceTimes with your work-wife to see how your career resolutions are coming along. Feeling like you’re in it together makes following through on your resolutions easier—and more fun.

“People struggle to reach their goals because we have bad ‘health short-term memory.'”

7. Constantly stay inspired

Maybe you are what you eat, but you are what you read, watch, and listen to as well. Fill your space and your time in ways that are inspiring for you. Read books that get you closer to your goal or listen to podcasts that motivate you. Post affirmations on your mirror, computer screen, or fridge. Create a vision board filled with images like a mantra that speaks to you, healthy meals you love, or logos of companies you aspire to work at. Immerse yourself in whatever sparks motivation. There will always be time for Real Housewives or The Bachelor, but remember: nutrition isn’t just about food; it’s about the content you consume. Fill your environment with inspiration, and reaching your goals will feel less like a chore and more like an exciting adventure.

8. Journal your progress

On an episode of The Everygirl Podcast, Dr. Stacie Stephenson, MD shared the reason why we struggle to reach our goals isn’t laziness. It’s what she calls bad “health short-term memory.” Basically, we forget how amazing we felt after that yoga class or how swapping a sugary latte for a nourishing breakfast left us buzzing with lasting energy instead of crashing by 11 a.m. The solution? Journaling about your resolutions on a regular basis. Whether you scribble morning pages in a notebook, jot down daily goals in your planner, or type your wins into your Notes app, writing them down will keep them front of mind. It’s harder to skip a workout or cave to takeout when you know you’ll have to account for it later. Journaling doesn’t just help you remember what you’ve promised to yourself—it nudges you to follow through on your promises.

9. Always have a Plan B

So maybe you slept through your alarm and missed your morning workout, or you’re hangry and not feeling your usual smoothie. That’s OK—real life happens. But without a Plan B, one slip can turn into quitting entirely. Have an easy and flexible backup plan for every resolution so one hiccup doesn’t derail your whole day. Think of it as a “good enough” version of it. If you miss your morning workout, take a 20-minute walk after dinner or do a YouTube yoga flow before hopping in the shower. If you don’t feel like cooking, keep a few healthy, no-effort meals on hand (they don’t have to be homemade) so takeout isn’t your only option. Small pivots like these keep you moving, eating well, and feeling motivated, even when how you envisioned the day going falls apart.

10. Fit resolutions into what you’re already doing

Your resolutions can be lofty, but they have to fit into your life. For example, if you hate salad, don’t force yourself to eat salads. If you want to get fit but can’t run a mile to save your life, don’t try to run 5 miles. Instead, focus on healthy foods and exercises that actually make you feel good. Learning how to enjoy the process of reaching your goals help them stick. Experiment with new recipes and test out different workouts to find one that you’ll not only enjoy but also look forward to. Don’t vow to wake up at 6 a.m. for meditation and a full workout if your alarm clock usually goes off five minutes before you have to be on Slack. Start small: meditate while your coffee brews, do some squats while brushing your teeth, or go on a walk during a conference call. There are dozens of ways to weave your resolutions into your existing routines rather than attempting to build a whole new one from scratch.

“Even resolutions need balance, not perfection.”

11. Look for one small victory every day

The key to resolution success is not to obsess over what you have yet to accomplish—it’s focusing on what you’ve already done. Looking at how far you’ve come (even if it is just baby steps) will boost your confidence and motivation to keep going. Every single day, find one win toward your goal: squeezing in an extra 1,000 steps, having a nourishing protein-packed breakfast, or scheduling an informational interview with someone in your dream field or company. Focusing on the small, daily victories feels way more satisfying than fixating on a distant goal that feels out of reach. Treat each step as win, and get excited about the ones waiting for you tomorrow.

12. Focus on the “why” goal, but be flexible with resolutions

Remember those “why” goals we talked about? Maybe you want to work out more to feel more confident, or you’re chasing a raise because you know your contributions deserve it. While the secret to staying committed to your resolutions is keeping your purpose in mind, giving yourself flexibility along the way is just as important. Between now and 2027, there will be days when you’re too tired to work out, need to take a mental health day from work, or want to enjoy a glass of wine and an entire pizza on a Friday night. Those moments don’t mean you’re failing; they mean you’re listening to what your body needs.

If you cling too tightly to rigid rules, your resolutions won’t last. To hold yourself accountable, keep your eyes on the bigger picture like feeling more confident, progressing in your career, or treating your body well. Being flexible helps you stay on track without letting external expectations or setbacks drag you down. Even resolutions need balance, not perfection.

13. Attach your resolution to your future self (not a deadline)

Deadlines create urgency and can help see you through to the finish line: lose 10 pounds by March, get promoted by June, run a marathon by October. But while deadlines may work well for work projects, they can be a slippery slope for resolutions. If you miss one, the whole resolution and the effort you’ve put in can feel pointless. Your best self, on the other hand, doesn’t expire. Instead of asking, What do I want to achieve? ask, Who do I want to become? What does she do? When your resolution is tied to who you want to become, it stops feeling like another to-do and starts shaping how you see yourself.

Instead of “I’m trying to work out more,” you’re a person who moves daily, even if it’s simply exercise snacks throughout the day. You’re not just “hoping to eat healthier,” you’re someone who listens to and takes care of their body. Then, back it up with your actions. Get up from your desk once an hour to knock out 10 squats, or prep a single nutrient-dense lunch. Even the seemingly menial choices you make reinforce the version of yourself you’re building.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Josie Santi, Senior Wellness Editor & Podcast Host

Josie has been an editor and writer for The Everygirl since 2017 and became a certified Holistic Health Coach in 2020. Listen to Josie on The Everygirl Podcast, where she interviews guests and hosts episodes on a variety of educational, inspirational, and entertaining topics.

READ JOSIE’S FULL BIO