It’s been nearly two months since New Year’s Day — enough time to see which resolutions have stuck and which have faded. Some of my goals turned into habits, while others slowly disappeared into the background.
On December 31st, my mind brimmed with hope as the clock approached midnight. The air buzzed with the promise of a fresh start, and I felt ready to embrace my clean slate. I told myself I’d wake up at 6:30 a.m., seize the day and become my dream self in 2025.
Then, reality set in. Morning arrived, and the snooze button won yet again. The cycle repeated. Within a week, my resolutions already felt like distant memories.
Every New Year’s Eve, I write a long, detailed list of resolutions, hoping that putting pen to paper will magically cause the changes I want in my life. Yet, this piece of paper always ends up collecting dust in my closet as I revert back to my old ways in the new year. Forgotten and untouched, the paper becomes a symbol of ambitions left unfulfilled.
The phrase “New year, New me” creates an illusion that January 1st will automatically transform my life. However, I’ve come to realize that change happens gradually. Setting unrealistic goals and hoping for drastic change puts a lot of pressure on myself. Short-term motivation doesn’t help me make consistent, long-term changes to my life. Realistically, waking up as a brand new person simply doesn’t happen.
In 2025, instead of setting unattainable goals, I am trying to take smaller, more manageable steps. Rather than trying to do 100 things in one night, I am prioritizing one goal per day. Whether it’s cleaning my room or going for a run, small improvements make me feel like I am making consistent progress. By the end of the year, I aim to have accumulated more healthy habits and a better mindset.
Now, as we near the two-month mark of 2025, I’ve learned that growth isn’t about a single, drastic transformation. I’m convinced consistently taking steps — no matter how small — is the most effective way to become a better version of yourself.
