Mindset: Maybe Now ISN'T The Best Time for New Year's Resolutions

Rethinking New Year's Resolutions.

Are you getting served ads with health and wellness products you MUST buy, trending diets, and Ozempic? Yeah, me too.

We’re past Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but not past the aggressive marketing telling you why you need to or should change something about yourself this year.

Is there anything inherently wrong with encouraging change? No… we all have things we could improve. Maybe it’s drinking more water or less alcohol, eating more veggies and less sugar, moving our bodies a bit more, investing in our financial health or relationships…

The growth mindset that comes with New Year’s Resolutions is a net WIN.

Here’s what I’m saying:

Maybe January 1st isn’t the best time for you to start your goals.

Let me explain.

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#1 - Post-Holiday Burnout.

You’re coming off a very busy season. One that can be mentally and physically draining. Many people enter January exhausted or overwhelmed, which isn’t the best state to take on new challenges.

In some ways, drastically changing how you’ve been eating or moving makes sense; however, this is aligned with the “diet starts Monday” mentality, where you go a little wild with overeating sugar or alcohol for days/weeks and then buckle everything in.

And while your BODY may appreciate this shift, it can be difficult for your MINDSET to drastically change how you’ve been living.

Sure, everyone can white-knuckle things for a while, but does that REALLY set you up for a healthier 2025, as a whole? While some people benefit from this type of reset, and it can be a nice platform to start making other changes, many people find this approach to be too much. They’re simultaneously finding their footing after weeks of disruption while making huge changes to their routine.

The Alternative:

• Determine 1-2 things you think are reasonable to change in January. Scale from there.

• From a nutrition perspective, this could look like drinking more water (closer to 100 fl oz a day) or eating more vegetables. Simple!

• From an exercise perspective, this could look like taking 2-4,000 more steps a day or starting a gym routine 2-3 days a week. Simple!

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#2 - The Weather/Daylight Situation Isn’t Ideal

Change is hard. Compound that with darker, colder days, and you need even more willpower to get you going!

The Alternative:

There might be more naturally suitable times for starting a goal:

• Spring or Summer: More daylight and better weather can boost mood and energy levels.

• Milestones: Significant life events (birthdays, job changes) often inspire meaningful, personal resolutions.

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#3 - Arbitrary Timing / #MomLife

There are seasons of life that are “easier” than others. Maybe your kids developed a nasty respiratory virus the last week of December or the first week of January. Maybe you just had a baby! Maybe you’re dealing with water damage to your house or an incredibly full work schedule.

Goals are more likely to succeed when they stem from personal reflection and a genuine desire for change, not just a sense of obligation tied to the date. Effective goal-setting often requires introspection, preparation, and planning, which may not conveniently coincide with January 1.

The Alternative:

Choose a start date that aligns with your readiness. A plan specific to YOUR life leads to more sustained effort. Motivation to start a goal because "everyone else is doing it" often isn’t sustainable.

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#4 - Unrealistic expectations

The hype around New Year’s resolutions often leads to setting overly ambitious or vague goals (e.g., "exercise every day" or "lose 20 pounds in a month" or “follow this elimination diet that removes all of your favorite foods for 60 days”). This sets people up for failure and discouragement when they can’t sustain progress or see immediate results.

The Alternative:

Don’t take on too much all at once. Determine what your “big rock” is. What do you value most or want to change the most? Then, break that down even further.

Play an annoying game of asking yourself, “But Why?” and “But How?” relentlessly until you understand the underlying factors for what you want to change and how you will get there.

“But Qhy?” questions may reveal that your goals are superficial. You don’t REALLY need to lose an extra 10 lbs (it’s not for health reasons), but you do need to get more steps in for your cardiovascular or mental health.

“But How?” questions reveal your path to get there. You can’t stop at “I’ll meal plan” or “I’ll eat more vegetables this year.” Ask yourself where you’ll shop, when you’ll chop and cook vegetables, what day/time works best to meal prep, and what short-cuts you can take to make it work.

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Final Thoughts:

This isn’t meant to dissuade you from starting a New Year’s Resolution. Instead, it’s meant for you to think critically about how you set yourself up for success when it’s the right time to make a change.

I personally enjoy making New Year’s Resolutions that consider these things. I find peace and enjoyment in the process.

And while your goals SHOULD push you outside your comfort zone, always remember that you can change your goals or approach at ANY time.

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Your Thoughts:

If you need help or have questions, please share them below! I’m curious: What do you think of this approach? Are you setting any goals this year?