How to Set New Year’s Resolutions You’ll Actually Keep in 2026

In January, we face the incredible pressure to change. We must fix our flaws, change our ways, and seemingly reinvent ourselves overnight. This often leads to us creating grand, and frequently unattainable, goals. Most years, I’ve approached January with the best intentions and a long list of resolutions that slowly fade by February. Over time, I’ve realised that the problem isn’t wanting to improve – it’s how we set those intentions in the first place and how we approach January as a month of change, rather than rest.

This year, I want to help you set New Year’s resolutions that feel achievable, meaningful, and actually stick. It’s not about perfection, it’s about progress. Successful New Year resolutions are a real thing! I’m going to share practical ways to set goals you’ll keep, from SMART goals to habit-building techniques that don’t feel like a punishment.

Start With SMART Goals

In order to create successful New Year resolutions, you need to start with SMART goals. SMART stands for:

• Specific – What exactly do you want to achieve?
• Measurable – How will you know you’re making progress?
• Achievable – Is it realistic given your life right now?
• Relevant – Does it matter to you?
• Time-bound – When do you want to achieve it by?

Instead of saying “I want to be healthier” (vague and overwhelming), try something like “I want to walk 8,000 steps five days a week by the end of March”. That’s a SMART goal because you know exactly what you’re doing, how to measure it, and when you hope to complete it.

Breaking resolutions down like this helps with motivation. When your goals are specific, you can plan your week around them and fit them into your routine more easily. Plus, knowing how you’ll measure success makes it easier to celebrate little wins along the way.

Turn Resolutions into Habits

Once you’ve got SMART goals in place, the next trick is turning them into habits. Many of us start the year with enthusiasm, only for our old routines to creep back in after a few weeks. One method that’s helped me is focusing on consistency rather than intensity.

There’s something called the 21/90 rule, which states that it takes 21 days to establish a new habit and around 90 days for that habit to become part of your lifestyle. Yes, 21 consecutive days really can change the way you think about something, and after three months, those actions feel more automatic than forced. I wrote about this in the context of building better daily habits a while back when I tried using a planner to create more positive daily routines. You might find it useful too.

So rather than trying to overhaul your life overnight, pick one new behaviour and commit to doing it every day for 21 days. Once that becomes routine, add another. Over time, these small wins build into big changes.

Focus on What Matters to You

One of the biggest problems with resolutions is that they aren’t always meaningful. We set goals because we feel like we should – losing weight, organising our homes, saving money – but few of these actually align with what matters most to us.

Ask yourself what your “why” is. Why do you want to achieve this goal? For example, if your resolution is to exercise more, is it because you want to feel stronger and calmer, or because Instagram told you to look a certain way? Goals rooted in personal dignity and well-being are far easier to keep than those based on comparison or guilt.

It also helps to celebrate progress, not perfection. I once read about keeping a monthly journal to reflect on wins big and small – everything from surviving a hard day to finally clearing that wardrobe shelf – and I loved the idea of documenting progress to remind yourself how far you’ve come.

Build in Accountability and Support

If goals are private thoughts tucked away in your head, they’re easier to ignore. Telling a close friend, your partner or even sharing with a small online community can make a huge difference. Accountability doesn’t have to feel awkward; it’s simply a way of reminding yourself that you said you’d do something.

You might choose to check in with a buddy weekly, or tick off a habit tracker in a journal. Some people even enjoy sharing their goals publicly on social media because that tiny bit of audience makes them more committed. You don’t have to turn it into a performance – just enough accountability to keep you honest.

Be Kind to Yourself and Adjust as Needed

Resolutions are plans, not verdicts on your character. If you fall off the wagon, it doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It means there’s an opportunity to adjust. Maybe that SMART goal was too ambitious for January, or maybe life got in the way. That’s okay – you can refine it. Instead of giving up, ask what you can change to make it more realistic.

As someone who writes about mental health and family life, I’ve seen first hand how expectations can pile up and make us feel like we’re constantly behind. Goals should inspire you, not make you feel worse.

Make 2026 the Year of Sustainable Change

So if you’re thinking about your New Year’s resolutions this year, take the time to make them SMART, build them into habits, connect them to your values, and surround yourself with a bit of support. The goal isn’t to be perfect – it’s to grow a little each day, in ways that matter – and that’s how you make successful New Year resolutions!