The checklist of New Year's resolutions seems well within reach when you’re looking ahead to a whole new year. In fact, almost everything is possible.
A six-pack by June? Easy. Read 100 books? Make it 102. Finally conquer that crushing mountain of debt? Totally doable.
Except, if 2025 has taught us anything, it’s that life is unpredictable, and we can’t always accomplish every New Year's resolution we set out to achieve. Some of us fail by April and at least 80% of us fail by the second week of February.
Setting lofty goals and feeling overwhelmed by the pressure you put on yourself are among the most common reasons New Year’s resolutions fail.
But there’s a way to prevent that from happening in 2026 — start by setting small, achievable goals. Try these 7 New Year's resolution ideas to stay on track and fulfill your personal enhancement goals.
7. Do One New Thing A Month
New Year's resolutions often crash and burn because they try to tackle too much too fast. But you can take things as slowly as you want. The key to setting good New Year’s resolutions is simply moving forward at your own pace.
Set a goal once a month to do something you’ve never done before. That could mean eating at a new restaurant, gardening, learning salsa, or even painting your bedroom a different color. However small or big, it’s still something to look back on at the end of the year.
6. Save A Small Percentage Of Your Paycheck
When you’re living paycheck to paycheck, you might feel tempted to splurge the moment your bank account is replenished. But impulsive purchases can add up, no matter how affordable they seem in the moment, and that’s why a New Year's resolution of opening up a savings account can offer you peace of mind.
At least 20% of your annual income should go to savings, but if you save less in one month than you’re supposed to, don’t beat yourself up about it. If you haven’t saved before, you can start by saving as little as $100 and working your way up month by month.
5. Do Your Bit For The Environment
You can undoubtedly make a resolution to go vegan or adopt a zero-waste lifestyle, but trying to accomplish those goals can be a jarring change if you’ve never attempted it before.
Instead, take baby steps. Try incorporating one plant-based meal into your diet, start donating clothes and thrifting when you can, carry a reusable tote bag to the supermarket, purchase a set of eco-friendly metal straws, and recycle as much as possible.
4. Be Kind To Yourself And Others
Before you start your day, think about how you can add a sprinkle of positivity to your day and others’.
The best part is you don’t have to go out of your way to fulfill this New Year’s resolution. A small act of kindness will suffice.
Text a friend you haven’t heard from in a while. Call your parents. Cook a meal for your partner. Treat yourself to a cupcake from your favorite bakery. Allow yourself to take a whole day off and do what you want to do.
Being kind to others may come easier than being kind to yourself, but remember that you don’t need an excuse to justify why you’re treating yourself to something that makes you feel good.
3. Refresh Your Routine (and Yourself)
Getting healthier is one of the most popular New Year goals, but true wellness isn’t about quick fixes or chasing a number on the scale. When we expect instant results, it’s easy to lose momentum.
Instead, focus on habits that support your mind and body over time. Aim to get enough daily movement — whether that’s hitting your step goal, spending an hour outside in fresh air, or building consistency with gentle, feel-good exercise. Trying a new fitness class, yoga studio, or outdoor activity can be a great way to energize your routine and boost your mental health.
And remember, transformation doesn’t have to be physical fitness alone. Small changes can make a big impact on how you feel. Switch up your hairstyle, experiment with a new color, refresh your wardrobe, or embrace bolder patterns and pieces you’ve always loved from afar. Make this the year you prioritize feeling good, inside and out — and let your confidence be the glow-up everyone notices.
2. Try A New Recipe Each Week
Sometimes, at the end of a long day, all you want to do is order pizza. And that’s understandable. Life can get in the way of cooking every single day. Either you don’t have the time, or you have social obligations.
But setting a New Year’s resolution to cook just one new recipe accomplishes three things: you save money by eating at home, the food is better for you because you know exactly what’s going in it, and you have a chance to brush up on your cooking skills.
Trying a different recipe each week can also introduce you to a variety of dishes and cuisines, and cooking the meal won’t even take long — a Google search for easy 30-minute dinner ideas just might yield enough results to last you a whole year.
1. Get More Sleep
While it sounds easy enough to get the recommended 8 hours of sleep every night, not many people do.
In fact, surveys found that 59% of respondents were averaging less than 6 hours of sleep per night in 2020. But better sleep is essential for overall health, and clocking 8 hours can offer many benefits, including increased productivity, improved mood, boosted immune function, and reduced weight gain.
Try going to bed at the same time every night, avoid alcohol or caffeine before bed, turn off your electronic devices at least 30 minutes before bed, and ensure your bedroom is conducive to a good night’s sleep.
Setting New Year's resolutions can seem like a trite task, especially when you can’t drown out statistics about the failed ones. But reflecting on resolutions can help you look back on the past and gain a better understanding of what needs to change in the future.
Despite what the phrase says, a new year won’t necessarily foster a new you, but it can motivate you to be better, and resolutions help with that.
