Shifting the New Year's Mindset "All of Nothing" to "Something Counts"

By now, many people are already whispering, “Well… that didn’t last long.” The gym routine slipped. The planner went untouched. The goals you felt so motivated about on January 1st now feel heavy and if you posted it on your socials- maybe even a little embarrassing.

Here’s the truth: failing at your New Year’s resolutions doesn’t mean you failed yourself. It means you’re human. What matters more than the resolution itself is the reason behind it.

Most resolutions are surface-level expressions of deeper needs. “Work out every day” often means I want to feel healthy, strong, or confident. “Get a new job” often means I want stability, fulfillment, or financial security. “Go back to school” often means I want growth, purpose, or opportunity. When we judge ourselves for not sticking to the exact resolution, we miss the bigger picture: those needs are still valid, the plan just needs a little fixing.

New Year’s resolutions tend to fail because they’re built on perfect conditions. You’ll find more time. There will be less stress. You will have more energy. But life doesn’t reset on January 1st. Kids still get sick. Work stays demanding. Motivation fluctuates. That doesn’t make you weak, it makes your world real. Instead of abandoning the goal entirely, shrink it.

Shift from “All or nothing” to Something Counts”. Rather than chasing big, rigid goals, focus on small actions that support the same purpose. 

If your goal was health, maybe try adding one extra glass of water a day, take a 5 minute walk break in your day or stretch before bed. 

If your goal was career growth, try updating a section of your resume, listen to one podcast episode related to your industry, send one email or make a new connection.

If your goal was education or learning, read an educational article, watch a short video, watch a Ted Talk take and notes for 10 minutes.

Small steps don’t feel impressive but they are sustainable. And sustainability is what creates real change. Growth rarely looks like consistency. It can look like starting, stopping, restarting and adjusting. Each time you return to your intention, you’re practicing resilience, not failure. 

Instead of asking, “Why can’t I stick to this?” try asking:

• What was I hoping this goal would give me?

• What’s one small thing I can do this week to support that?

You don’t need a new year to begin again. You don’t need perfect follow-through to make progress.

Sometimes the real win isn’t completing the resolution, it’s learning how to care for yourself without punishment.

And that kind of growth lasts far longer than January.