my ins and outs for 2025

+ how to make resolutions

In spite of the feeling that New Year’s resolutions are declining in popularity, there is a case for them yet: the inspiration to take positive action. A new year doesn’t have to be the inception for a wholly new version of ourselves. It can be an opportunity to commit to our growth in compassionate, realistic ways. If you’re making resolutions, here’s how to set yourself up for success:

• Think about who you want to be in one year. Imagine what it would be like to be that version of yourself. Identify characteristics, behaviors, and actions of that person. Break these down into smaller habits. Instead of expecting overnight change, give yourself time to grow into these habits.
  When you set resolutions, choose actionable processes that you want to engage in and connect you to a deeper purpose.

• Set SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based. And then be flexible.
  For example, you could resolve resolve to meditate every day with the purpose of starting a consistent meditation practice. Well, it’s easy (read: human) to miss a day. For some of us, that might feel like Failure. Not like a failure to practice for one day, but a big fat F on the resolution to meditate every day. (Does this sound familiar to anyone?) So we write off the entire resolution and give up on the larger purpose: building a meditation practice
  Allow yourself to bend so you don’t break. You don’t have to have a perfect record to learn and grow, or to stay aligned with your deeper purpose. Resolve to try.

• Remind yourself that resolutions don’t have to be ascetic. You can resolve to spend more time with friends, to say no more often, prioritize sleep, ask for help and lean on your support system, or my personal favorite: plan a great trip this year.