New Year Resolutions Most Likely to Be Broken—And How to Fix Them!

New Year Resolutions Most Likely to Be Broken—And How to Fix Them!

“This year, I will save money.”
“This year, I will eat healthy.”
“This year, I will learn a new skill.”
“This year, I will work on my fitness.”
“This year, I will limit my screen time.”

Have you heard of these statements before? One of them is probably something you have told yourself. Let’s reflect on the last year; have you maintained any of the above resolutions?

It is a universal experience to set seemingly realistic new year resolutions, only to find them unachievable as we repeatedly lie to ourselves year after year. Even simple resolutions can be strenuous to keep due to factors such as lack of specificity, environmental factors, and stringing old habits. Here are some ways to achieve the most fundamental New Year resolutions before you become more immune to excusing yourself.


“This year, I will save money.”
How much do you target to save each year? The most fundamental step to saving money is not resisting from buying items and then reassuring yourself that you have “saved money” because of that. It is to construct a solid financial plan to stick to throughout the year, implementing effective money-keeping habits in the minutia of our daily lives. We often fail to save money due to vague goals and a lack of actionable plans. 

One of the ways to a filled wallet includes being mindful before giving in to impulsive purchases. A simple hack to avoid impulsive purchases and balance your wants versus needs is to set an image of the desired item as your phone wallpaper.

If your desire to buy it fades after seeing it repeatedly, it’s a sign that the purchase might not be necessary. Give yourself 48 hours to evaluate your decision, leading to an informed decision instead of bearing the regret of wasting money on something trendy or flashy at first glance. 

 

“This year, I will eat healthy.”
Define healthy in your terms. What foods should you incorporate into your diet? Eating healthy can be daunting without a structured plan. With no clear direction, one tends to give in to their unhealthy cravings most of the time, with an excuse of “diet starts tomorrow,” while the guilt from the failure sits in their gut.

Instead of overhauling your diet overnight, take baby steps to explore healthier alternatives to your initial diet. This can be done by finding delectable, healthy recipes that are cheap and quick to make, making homemade meal preparations a thrilling pastime to assimilate into your routine.

For instance, avocado toast, Greek yoghurt parfait, hummus veggie wrap, and many more. These recipes that require minimal effort but still pack a punch of nutritional value will turn meal preparation into a fun and experimental process. Play with various herbs, spices, and fresh ingredients to produce unique meals conjured by a flavourful blend of healthy ingredients.

 

“This year, I will learn a new skill.”
Have you successfully mastered a new skill that you no longer have to carry over the same goal for the new year? The initial motivation to upgrade yourself with a new skill can fade as life gets in the way. It becomes a recurring cycle of procrastination, pushing the pursuit of new skills to a later time, and before we know it, the new year arrives. When life gets busy, we tend to succumb to mindless activities at any free time given, draining our passion and willpower to actively work on a new skill.  

To stay consistent, choose a skill that genuinely interests you and set daily reminders. For example, you want to learn a language; start with 15 minutes of learning new vocabulary daily. Alternatively, if you are willing to invest, sign up for classes. It is a way to encourage consistent attendance by involving financial commitment.

 

“This year, I will work on my fitness.”
What are your body goals? Have you achieved body confidence? What specific fitness milestones do you aspire to achieve? Numerous people fall victim to abandoning their fitness habits because they aim too high without constructing an effective plan or do not see immediate results. Without measurable milestones, it is easy to feel discouraged when progress looks unpromising. 

Instead of vague goals like “I will work on my fitness,” set clear targets, like “I will jog for 30 minutes without stopping” or “I will lift 5kg weights by July.” Practise these goals through smaller, weekly milestones that track progress in a non-negotiable routine. Schedule your workouts at the same time each day, treating them as important as any other appointments.

Due to a lack of discipline, people are guilty of making their exercise routines second to their priorities. Take the initiative to schedule a dedicated period specifically for physical activity. Once you have allocated that time, it is your choice whether to take the first step to adopt an active new year or let the opportunity slip by seamlessly day by day.

 

“This year, I will limit my screen time.”
With eye-catching social media content residing on our screens, it seems gruelling to limit a time of enjoying media consumption. The constant influx of attractive social media content triggers our brain’s dopamine system, which is responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward. This constant stream of instant gratification becomes addictive as our brains become overly dependent on quick dopamine hits, making it increasingly challenging to focus on less stimulating activities.      

Nevertheless, achieving this goal is entirely possible. Start by establishing strict limits on screen time, such as no screen time one hour before bed and no mindless scrolling immediately after waking up. Use apps like Forest to monitor and limit your screen usage.

There are countless beneficial and rewarding activities that can replace screen time, such as reading, drawing, and baking or spending time with loved ones. In a world already deeply invested in technology, take this moment to rewind from modernisation and do what humans do best: connect and bond. Over time, your brain will recalibrate, minimising the need for instant gratification and regaining a healthier balance in dopamine regulation.  

Holding yourself accountable to these common pitfalls by implementing practical strategies, you are on your way to mastering the new “you” in the new year. This year can finally be the one where your resolutions stick! 

Words to learn:

Strenuous – requiring a lot of effort, energy, or hard work.

Stringing – connecting or arranging things in a series, often in a way that requires careful attention or effort.

Immune – resistant or unaffected by something, typically used in the context of being resistant to diseases or influences.

Minutia – small, detailed, or trivial aspects of something.

Gut – referring to a person’s instinctive feeling or intuition, often based on emotions rather than reasoning.

Overhauling – making significant changes or improvements to something, often in a thorough or comprehensive manner.

Delectable – delicious or highly pleasing, usually in reference to food.

Assimilate – to absorb or integrate information, ideas, or culture fully into one’s understanding or practice.

Consumption – the act of consuming or using something, especially in relation to food or resources.

Influx – the arrival or entry of large numbers of people or things into a place.

Recalibrate – to reset, adjust, or correct something to ensure it is functioning properly or effectively.

Accountable – being responsible for something and willing to explain or justify one’s actions or decisions.

At ILTI, we encourage our learners to polish their language skills via real-life situations. We do not practise the chalk and talk approach – we learn and have fun at the same time. Join us today by calling / WhatsApp 010-395 3067 or email: info@ilti.edu.my.