There’s always a lot of debate at this time of the year about whether or not new year’s resolutions actually work. From what I’ve seen, it’s almost a fifty-fifty split between who thinks they do work and who thinks they don’t work.
I believe they can and will work if you’re sensible about them. For example, if you make a new year’s resolution to 
lose two stone, but have no intention of changing your lifestyle, that’s not going to work. If you make the same resolution and change your diet and start to exercise regularly, it will work.
They key to setting new year’s resolutions that will actually work comes down to two things:
- How badly do you want it?
- How hard are you willing to work to get it?
If you want something badly enough, and you’re willing to put in the work required to get it, then new year’s is a good time to make that change. New year, new beginning and all that.
If you just make resolutions for the sake of it, basing them on things you don’t really care about then of course they won’t work.
I believe that saying new year’s resolutions don’t work is a bit of a blanket statement which actually translates to “my new year’s resolutions fail because I don’t work at them”. Admit it, we’ve all been there – you make that resolutions and you know your heart’s not in it.
If you’re someone who doesn’t make resolutions work for you, then that’s ok. But that doesn’t mean they don’t work – it just means it’s not your thing. New year’s resolutions can and do work for plenty of people.
I don’t think there’s a right answer to the question in general, just a right answer for each individual. So if you find new year’s resolutions don’t work for you, when you hear a friend talking about theirs, don’t be negative and assume they won’t work. Because if your friend is willing to make them work, then they just might.
Do you make new year’s resolutions? Do you stick to them and make them happen? Let me know in the comments 
You can find me here: Twitter Facebook Bloglovin Pinterest and Instagram Please do stop by and say hi!
If you struggle with making new year’s resolutions work for you, have a look at my tips on how to set actionable goals that will motivate you to succeed.
Want more tips on getting ahead on your goals? Pop your email address into the “never miss a post again” box on the right to make sure you catch all of my goal setting and motivational posts.
I make vision cards at the beginning of the year, focusing on the areas where I want to see some changing happen. That way I don’t make any actual resolutions that I won’t be able to keep but instead make goals to achieve. That’s worked for me for the past 3 or 4 years.
I tend to set goals rather than make personal resolutions – I know I’ll put the time and effort for goals, where for personal things I most likely won’t bother. Love the idea of vision cards.
Very interesting. I have never set so-called resolutions but I try to look at areas that I need improvement in and work on those. I tend to throw the whole ugly bag of snakes on the table and go through it, it is there and I can re-visit it if I need to.
That’s a good way of doing it
I find they typically don’t because you make them during the magical time that you’re off work and enjoying family. I think setting short term goals throughout the year are a bit easier to manage. #AnythingGoes
I find my work related ones work out because I actually think about them and I break them into smaller ones like you said, but if I make sweeping statement personal ones I’m never motivated to stick to them
Completely agree, depends on the individual and many factors. My first time on your linky, looks fab
#Anythinggoes
Welcome! Great to have you join in
I think it just comes down to motivation, people get motivated at the start of the year and then all of that energy fizzels out
I never charge in the New Year with the idea of changing anything dramatically. Instead I just want to be a better version of myself each year more than the last. I’ll mess up, but it’s something that I tell myself when I need it, throughout the year x
That’s a really good one x
Popping back x
Personally I don’t do new years resolutions, I just do small and realistic changes when I need to. I think it is improtant to check how you feel and what is working and not now.and again to make sure that changes can be made to make you feel better X #anythinggoes
I make New Years Resolutions, but they tend to be a commitment to a daily action rather than a ‘goal’. So for 2018 I resolved to eat a salad a day. It’s easy to measure, not that hard, and I don’t expect perfection!
I don’t make New Years resolutions for the very reason you state here; I’m too lazy to change my ways! I would love to be half a stone slimmer but I am very content with eating out and drinking the odd glass of wine. I know that I would loook better with that half a stone gone but I also know that once I get out into the garden again in the Spring, that weight should come off! Fun post. #anythinggoes
I agree that motivation makes all the difference. I don’t typically set resolutions in January, it seems so arbitrary to me, but one year I decided to do a 5km charity run and I hate running so I did the couch o 5km programme and it was brilliant. I wouldn’t have run the 5km if I wasn’t determined to to the run for charity though! #anythinggoes
My folks don’t tend to make New Years Resolutions but they make bucket lists of places they want to visit and things they want to do…it’s much more enjoyable! It’s hard to keep on top of lifestyle changes unless you have the motivation to press you through. Thankfully they both quit smoking 10 years ago and don’t really drink much so vices wise aren’t that unhealthy. Maybe could do with getting more exercise and recycling more…but that’s always been ongoing. We like reading about other people’s resolutions though x #AnythingGoes
I agree – the bucket list sounds much more fun!
My trick is not to resolve anything past January. That way it can’t be left and isn’t daunting. For example if I say I will read 2 books in January, then decide to try another 2 in Feb. .. way easier in my head than reading 24 books in a year! #anythinggoes
Great way of doing it!
I personally don’t believe in “new years” resolutions. I think we should strive to be the best we can every single day and always be working towards a goal. Thanks for sharing
#anythinggoes
Katelynn
I haven’t made any New Years resolutions for this year… I am in the process of setting some goals, but when I do it I make mini goals to help me get to my main goal. I find it makes it so much more achievable. #anythinggoes
I don’t make new years resolutions because I think they put too much pressure on. I just promise myself that I will try harder. #anythigngoes
I think the problem can be when people try to change too much too soon. It’s just not practical! #anythinggoes
Popping back for #bloggerclubuk
H i, I made a resolution to go to more food and tea festivals to meet fellow bloggers this year. Simple fun but hopefully achievable otherwise I don’t think I would achieve them #BloggerClubUK
That’s a fab one!
I haven’t made any this year but I think that comes down to having a baby on the 21st December and being in a bubble of feeding, nappies and napping. Last year I vowed to learn a new skill and I did – Face Painting! I think it depends on how much you care about the resolution. For example, I set the same one, year after year, but actually only because I thought I should rather than wanting to. Thinking about it now, this year I’m aiming to lose my baby weight and maintain a health weight – no yo yo-Ing! #BloggersClubUK
I try to set a yearly goal rather than new years resolutions. I also love visualisation boards, I make a yearly one of those so I can focus on my goals. #BloggersClubUK
I don’t think I’ve ever set a new year’s resolution per se, but I would say that at the end of last year I decided to start prioritising self care. It’s a hard as a working mum to find time for yourself, so as a minimum I’ve committed to booking my next hair appointment at the end of the current one. If nothing else, every 6 weeks I’ll get an hour in the salon, on my own, being pampered with some tangible benefit. It’s a small thing but I think with a lot of yearly goals it’s easy to “go big” and then give up. They’re either unachievable or you don’t see a short term benefit so there’s less incentive to keep going #BloggerClubUK
I try to make one positive change each year. Last year was to add steps. With my fitbit I was able to keep track and add steps. This year is to drink more water….yes…I have an app to help track that as well! #bloggerclubUK
I tend not to make new year resolutions but I do think about the coming year and small things I would like to achieve #bloggerclubuk
I used to make resolutions in my head but this year I have written them down and that makes them more tangible and real. I am not sure it matters whether they are called resolutions, goals, plans etc – I think you need an action plan and a way to check progress regularly
#blogerclubuk
I haven’t set resolutions for years. I was never any good at keeping them
I haven’t set a new year resolution for a few years. I think it’s purely because I’m not taking much notice of the “new year” – I’m usually asleep when the clock chimes midnight! Maybe I’ll revert in a few years time..! #bloggerclubuk
only in the last two years – more of things to focus on and positive improvement plans! i never use negative phrasing and words like stop, lose, give up…working so far … #threeweeksinandstillgoingstrong #BloggersClubUK
I love that you don’t use negative phrases!
I haven’t made a New Year resolution in ages because there hasn’t been anything I want to change enough to put that extra effort in. There have been things I’ve worked on throughout the years though. But it’s a more of a natural process than I’m starting to do this on this day. That way I don’t feel as bad when I have setbacks. #bloggerclubuk
I’m back with #BloggerClubUK
This may sound totally cliche but I prefer to call them goals rather than resolutions, I set myself some realistic numbers and work towards those. You are right in saying that if you don’t work toward it, you will not achieve it…
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for sharing these with us… The Ritual looks like something I may actually give a try
#BloggerClubUK
Shevy
I prefer goals too
Debbie, I don’t make resolutions, just goals. I’ve found I have to make the goals very specific (as in your losing weight example) in order to meet them.
I always find goals work much better than sweeping statements
A resolution any time of year will only work if you want it too and I think a lot of people just do things in the new year because they feel they have too #bloggerclubuk
If you write (not type) something down, statistically, you are 42% more likely to do it. I keep my handwritten list on my fridge and usually tick off most of my resolutions!
Thanks for sharing #bloggerclubuk
I usually have a typed list of my goals, but this year I’ve hand written them in my goal tracking book so that’s good to know!
This year I will make mine work or my goals anyway by actively revisiting and reviewing them every month. I think possibly it is best to take resolutions lightly! #BloggerClubUK
Great plan – I focus seriously on my goals, but like you I take resolutions a bit more lightly
Making reasonable and attainable goals is definitely something that will work as long as you want it bad enough. I personally, don’t make New Year’s resolutions because my goals are constantly evolving. I am on a journey of constant discovery of what I want in life and I try to be mindful of the reality of what will actually get done in the year. With that said though, I do set myself a guideline. I find that much more helpful than setting a resolution that may or may not happen within the allotted timeline. #bloggerclubuk
I’ve set some goals and agree that if you want to achieve them badly enough then you can do so. #bloggerclubuk