Why I Don’t Do New Year’s Resolutions Anymore

For years, I bought into the excitement of New Year’s resolutions. Every January 1st, I would grab a notebook and write down my ambitious goals for the year. Lose weight. Organize the house. Read more books. Be more patient. The list went on and on.

I loved the idea of starting fresh, of becoming a “new me.” But as time went on, I noticed a pattern: I rarely stuck to those resolutions. By mid-February (sometimes even earlier), the goals would quietly fade away, replaced by guilt and frustration.

Eventually, I decided to stop making New Year’s resolutions altogether, and I’ve never looked back.

Why Resolutions Didn’t Work for Me

  1. They Focused on My Weaknesses
    Resolutions often highlight what we think is “wrong” with us. Instead of being grateful for who God has made me to be, I was fixated on all the areas where I felt I fell short. This mindset didn’t motivate me; it discouraged me.

  2. They Were Unrealistic
    I tended to set big, sweeping goals without thinking about the daily steps needed to achieve them. “Be more patient” is a great goal, but how do you measure it? Without a plan, it felt overwhelming and unattainable.

  3. They Were All About Me
    As a Christian mom, I realized my resolutions were often self-centered. While self-improvement is important, I wasn’t inviting God into the process. Instead of asking for His guidance, I was relying on my own strength—and failing.

What I Do Instead

Now, instead of making a list of resolutions, I approach the New Year with prayer and reflection. I ask God to show me what He wants for me in the coming year. Sometimes He lays a specific verse on my heart, or He reminds me of a character quality to work on.

This shift has brought so much peace. Instead of starting the year with pressure to perform, I start it with the comfort of knowing that His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

A Fresh Perspective

If you’re feeling the pressure to make resolutions this year, I encourage you to pause and pray. Ask God how He wants to use you in the year ahead. You don’t need a long list of goals to live intentionally. Trust His plan and rest in His grace.

And if your house is still messy or you haven’t hit the gym by January 15th? That’s okay. Life isn’t about perfection; it’s about faithfulness.

Let’s start this year with less striving and more surrender.

Connect with me on Instagram at @ministry.of.mothering for daily encouragement, easy recipes, and support. We’re all in this together!

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