Wisdom & Sol
Posts
Happy New Year! Break the Resolution Cycle: Habits > Resolutions

Happy New Year! Break the Resolution Cycle: Habits > Resolutions

Plus, wisdom, tips, and inspiration for a remarkable 2025

Sol TV
January 02, 2025

🎉 Happy New Year!

🔍 TL/DR: Why Resolutions Don’t Work

🔄 Sol Bites: Build Habits, Not Goals

🎀 4 Secrets to a Remarkable New Year

🎥 Video Bite: Paul Jochico’s New Year Journal Prompts

💡 Words of Wisdom

Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best in 2025. Thank you for being a Wisdom & Sol reader and welcome to the 1,900 people who have joined us since last week! If you haven’t subscribed, join our community of 28,023 intelligent, curious folks who want to boost their emotional well-being by subscribing here.

Most people have probably heard about the research that shows most New Year’s resolutions fail and impact self-esteem in a negative way. Well, this year we are trying something different: focusing on creating habits rather than outcomes, which experts say is the key to long-term success and satisfaction.

TL;DR: Why Resolutions Don’t Work

New Year's resolutions usually focus on specific results, but when you don’t see signs of progress it can be demotivating. Instead, try focusing on virtues you want to enhance—habits aligned with your values. This way, you concentrate on daily actions rather than the final result, making it easier to sustain motivation and achieve lasting change.

Here’s a roadmap on how to do it:

Sol Bites: Build Habits, Not Goals

1. Pick a Virtue: Choose a virtue that aligns with a value you hold. For example, if you value health, choose walking as your virtue rather than a specific weight loss goal.

2. Start Small: Make your virtue achievable with small, consistent actions. For instance, decide to walk for 15 minutes each day rather than committing to an intense 45 minute gym routine.

3. Focus on Consistency: Aim to perform your chosen virtue regularly. Consistency reinforces the behavior and makes it part of your identity, making it a natural habit over time.

4. Celebrate the Process: Appreciate each step you take towards embodying your virtue, regardless of outcomes. For example, when you complete 100 days of walking, give yourself a treat. Regular, positive reinforcement will boost your motivation.

Choosing New Year's resolutions that are virtues instead of goals works because you only need to think about manageable daily habits instead of anxiety-inducing big goals. When you reduce the pressure of achieving specific outcomes, you’ll be able to focus on maintaining motivation instead. Be a builder this New Year—focus on the small incremental steps in your journey rather than the destination.

4 Secrets to a Remarkable New Year (Without the Resolution Hangover)

Did you know most New Year's resolutions fail by January 17th? We've got the antidote…

Video Bite

Start the year with intention and mindfulness. Sol TV Creator Paul Jochico offers three journal prompts to help you connect with your inner wisdom and reflect on the year ahead.