2025: What To Do With New Year Goals
How are you defining your new year?
And what are you doing to work towards those goals long term?
Once the new year arrives, it can feel easy to get started. But it’s continuing with our goals and remaining consistent throughout the rest of the 12 months that is important. It’s also important to have a healthy amount of flexibility.
Oftentimes, we can get so rigid with our plans we burn ourselves out or hold schedules and goals that are not truly realistic for ourselves. Take a 5 am morning routine for example - if your body does not prefer to wake up around 5 am, why hold a 5 am morning routine just because someone else says it’s a great idea?
Every one of us is different, with different lives and circumstances that govern our ability to hold certain routines. BUT there is a big difference between doing things that are healthy and right for you and lacking discipline.
If you set a goal to eat healthier and lose weight, maybe you just need to start making healthier choices at this moment. It might not be fun, it might not be glamorous, but if it makes you feel physically healthy and good, then make those small choices and exercise restraint when choosing between let’s say: a processed snack and a healthy snack like veggies and fruits!
The new year is just an easy milestone to anchor to, but it is the commitment that defines our ability to reach our goals.
I like to set check-ins with myself and milestones throughout the year. I also create a vision board of what I want my year to look and feel like. I print this off, tape it on the cover of a notebook, and have a little journal I write in daily that reminds me of my goals. Here is where I write down my progress and track things daily. I don’t feel it’s always necessary to spend a ton of money on a complex journal and just to free flow and write how I am feeling and how I feel I am doing each day.
Here is an example of some milestones I will set for myself throughout the year:
May: I will usually check in on my routine, how things are feeling, and any adjustments I want to make going into the summer.
With the start of spring, how am I feeling? Does anything need to adjust with my routine / wind down / wake up as the days grow longer? Is the weather nicer and can I do more outside? Have I derailed any of my eating habits? What are some upcoming trips I am taking and how can I plan around them? Seasonal foods I can start planning to eat in warmer weather?
August/September: Late summer moving into fall - begin my holiday planning + back to school planning.
I will reassess my routine, add or adjust anything, look into seasonal foods I can incorporate into my diet, plan for any fall travel (attempt to get ahead of the holidays), and again, check in with myself. Am I at my goal weight/strength? Am I feeling my best? Do I need to adjust my wakeup time? Is my body feeling happy and energized? Have I been making the decisions that lead to positive progress?
November/December: Reflection!
I love to spend November and December reflecting and slowing down, thinking about how the year has gone and ways I can “finish strong”. Aside from the holidays, I usually take a small trip or time off to reflect and ensure I have a clear head going into January. I love to slow down during this time and wake and sleep longer with longer nights.
These are little habits we are trying to build that will eventually lead to long-term success. So we must enjoy them and commit to them at some level, to give ourselves a baseline, and from there we can make micro-adjustments throughout the year. Make sure your commitments are personalized and what is right for YOU - which may not look like what is popular on social media or with some influencer. By owning your routine and doing what makes you feel your best and holding to that, you can truly level up your year. Permit yourself to enjoy your life and make necessary changes that are in the best interest for your hormones and overall wellbeing.
Good luck and wishing you the best!!
Xx Malissa
