Happy New Year! Whether you’re ending 2025 on a high note or wishing you had finished the year a little stronger, I’d be willing to guess that most people reading this have set new goals for 2026. I know I have! Whether you call them resolutions or simply markers of a successful year, setting year-long goals can feel daunting. Over the years, I’ve found a few helpful tips and tricks that have made sticking to my goals much more manageable.

What Happened to Last Year’s Resolutions?

I’ll be the first to admit that most of the resolutions I’ve made have fizzled out, and often very quickly. I’d be willing to bet I’m not alone. In fact, according to the Ohio State Fisher School of Business, 91% of Americans who set New Year’s resolutions never follow through. But why is that?

Personally, my failed resolutions usually fall into one (or both) of the following categories:

Not Specific to Me

Goals should be based on who you are and what you truly want. Too often, I’ve made resolutions without taking the time to sit down and think about what I actually want to achieve. Am I setting this goal simply because it’s December 31 and that’s what you’re “supposed” to do? Or is this a challenging goal I’m genuinely willing to work toward?

Before committing to a New Year’s resolution, take a moment to reflect on what you really want to accomplish. Ask yourself: Is this something I’m truly willing to put effort into?

Too Large and Unmeasurable

When I look back at past resolutions, most of the ones that failed were overly ambitious and difficult to measure. To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with setting big, slightly intimidating goals, but those goals need to be broken down into smaller, more manageable steps.

Goals that can be measured and divided into digestible pieces are far more motivating. They allow you to track progress along the way, celebrate small wins, and stay encouraged to keep going.

Two Steps to Help You Set Goals That Stick

1. Get Clear and Be Honest

Before writing anything down, take time to get clear on why you want to set a particular goal. Ask yourself what motivates it and how it fits into your current season of life. Goals rooted in external pressure or comparison are much harder to maintain than goals driven by personal purpose.

Be honest about your time, energy, and priorities. Setting a goal that sounds impressive but doesn’t align with your reality sets you up for frustration. Clarity and honesty at the beginning create a much stronger foundation for success.

2. Break It Down and Track Progress

Once you’ve identified a meaningful goal, break it into smaller, actionable steps. Instead of focusing only on the end result, outline what progress looks like week by week or month by month. These smaller milestones make large goals feel attainable and prevent overwhelm.

Tracking progress. Whether through journaling, checklists, or simple reflections it can help keep you accountable and motivated. Seeing how far you’ve come, even in small ways, reinforces consistency and encourages you to keep going.

Conclusion

While New Year’s resolutions may have a reputation for falling apart, that doesn’t mean setting goals is a lost cause. The key isn’t to aim lower but rather to aim smarter. When your goals are personal, meaningful, and broken into measurable steps, they become far more achievable and far less overwhelming.

As you step into 2026, give yourself permission to set goals that align with who you are right now, not who you think you should be. Progress doesn’t happen overnight, and success doesn’t have to be perfect. Small, consistent steps taken with intention will always outweigh lofty goals with no plan behind them.

Here’s to a year of clarity, growth, and goals that actually stick.