20 Methods for Turning Your New Year's Resolution Into a Habit
Transforming your New Year's resolution into a lasting habit is about starting small, staying consistent, and making the process enjoyable throughout the year!
- Alyana Aguja
- 6 min read
Turning your New Year’s resolution into a lasting habit requires more than willpower; it’s about creating a system that makes success inevitable. Starting small, linking your resolution to existing routines, and making the process fun will make integrating your goals into daily life easy. With the right strategies and a little perseverance, you’ll find yourself achieving your resolutions and making them a seamless part of who you are.
1. Start Small, Think Big
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Start with simple actions that do not take a lot of your time. Starting with something big and trying to transform your life into a new life overnight can give you a ticket to failure, so start small and let it grow naturally into a habit that will compound over time into a significant success.
2. Make it Visual
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Post a vision board or keep a progress chart to track your progress visually. Seeing your daily success reinforces your commitment and motivates you to keep going. Plus, who doesn’t love a good, satisfying checkmark?
3. Link it to Your Routine
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Attach your new habit to an existing one, such as brushing your teeth or making your morning coffee. This sets up a trigger that reminds you to do it consistently, making it more difficult to forget. Over time, it’ll seamlessly blend into your daily rhythm.
4. Use the “Two-Minute Rule”
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Start your new habit with just two minutes, then stop. This makes it easy to start and removes the pressure to do it perfectly. Once you’ve started, you’re more likely to keep going!
5. Celebrate the Little Wins
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Do not wait until you reach the full accomplishment to celebrate. Revel in every step and small reward by giving yourself something you like. This will reinforce the positive feeling associated with your habit and encourage you to continue with it.
6. Accountability Partners Are Your Secret Weapon
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Find a friend or family member working on a resolution and check in with each other regularly. Accountability partners keep you motivated and support you when things get tough. Plus, it’s always more fun to conquer challenges together!
7. Visualize Success
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Before you act, close your eyes and vividly imagine how you would feel once this habit is established. Visualization makes your brain believe it will happen inevitably, making the process easier. You will find that you have become much more determined.
8. Make it Fun
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You won’t stick with the process if you’re not enjoying it. Find ways to make your new habit enjoyable by adding fun elements, like listening to music or making it a social event. When the journey is exciting, the destination becomes much easier to reach.
9. Turn Mistakes Into Lessons
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You are not going to be perfect, and that is okay! Instead of getting discouraged by slipping, learn from them. Ask yourself what went wrong, adjust, and get back on track — every failure is a stepping stone to success.
10. Set Micro-Goals
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Break it down into smaller, achievable goals that keep you motivated and make progress feel more immediate. Instead of considering it a long-term project, take it one step at a time and celebrate those mini victories. You will feel the satisfaction of reaching each new milestone.
11. Create a Trigger
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Identify a specific time, place, or activity that will serve as a cue to your habit. This can be as simple as setting an alarm daily, putting a note on your door, or having a routine that reminds you. The more automatic the cue, the easier it becomes to follow through.
12. Eliminate Obstacles
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Eliminate things that could get in your way by setting up your environment for success. If you resolve to eat healthier, clean out your pantry of tempting junk food. Making it easier to succeed helps you stay on track without distractions.
13. Be Flexible
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Life happens, and sometimes, you won’t be able to stick to your habit precisely as planned. That’s okay — the key is to adjust and find alternative ways to keep your habit going. Flexibility ensures you don’t give up altogether when life throws you a curveball.
14. Track Your Progress
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Record every day you complete your habit on paper, using a particular app, or even with a simple calendar. Seeing how many days of streak have accumulated serves as a vivid reminder of progress and creates another source of motivation because of the urge to preserve that streak. Progress is potent stuff!
15. Make it Non-Negotiable
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Treat your new habit as something you can’t break. It may be exercising for 30 minutes or reading 10 pages of a book daily, but it has to be just as important as any other appointment on your calendar. When it is non-negotiable, you tend to prioritize it more.
16. Find Your “Why”
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Dig deep and discover the core reason behind your resolution. Whether you want to improve your health or achieve a personal goal, knowing why you want to succeed makes it easier to stay committed. Keep your “why” visible as a reminder of what drives you.
17. Give Yourself Time to Adjust
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Building a new habit takes time, so don’t be hard on yourself if it feels challenging initially. It’s normal to feel resistance but give yourself grace as your mind and body adjust. Perseverance pays off–the first few weeks are the hardest, but then it becomes second nature.
18. Publicly Commit
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Share your resolution with others by posting it on social media or telling a group of friends. The social pressure to follow through can be surprisingly motivating. Plus, the support and encouragement from others will keep you moving forward.
19. Take a “Day Off”
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Allow yourself a break every once in a while, especially if you’re feeling burnt out. It sounds paradoxical, but it can give you a fresh perspective and help you come back stronger. Do not let that break turn into a permanent vacation, though.
20. Reflect and Adapt
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Periodically check in with yourself and assess how well your habit is working. Is there something you can tweak to make it easier or more enjoyable? By staying flexible and reflective, you can adapt your approach and ensure your habit sticks for the long haul.