Ditch the New Year’s Resolutions & What to Do Instead

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Looking forward to the new year can be depressing, overwhelming, or exciting especially when we feel the pressure to make New Year’s resolutions that we likely won’t follow through with.

Just like with the changing of seasons, the looming approach of yet another new year can cause us deep sadness. It’s that sadness over the challenging events or tragedies of the past year. Sometimes it’s regret over the things we never got to or goals we failed to reach.

We often feel overwhelmed that the time is passing so quickly that we feel like we are losing ourselves in the constant rush and hurry of the everyday. I don’t know about you, but so many days get wished away because they are hard and unpleasant. I find myself at the end of the year with a whole heap of days wished away that I can never get back.

Excitement of the New Year

And as we look to the new year, there can be excitement! Excitement for the things the new year may hold, the hope of a better year, the beginning of new things. It’s a chance to stop wishing away the days and resolve to embrace each one as if it were our last.

The problem is that we move right on into the new year just the same as we left the old one. Even if we are excited and ready for the new year, the new wears off and it’s just like all the others before. It’s just time…marching on. And we find ourselves in it putting one foot in front of the other, sometimes wishing time away, sometimes struggling through the days, often forgetting the new.

What to do instead of Making New Year’s Resolutions

I’m not suggesting New Year’s Resolutions here. I hate them because I suck at them. I don’t strive for them because I know I’m not going to follow through. Mostly it’s because I don’t have the willpower or strength to do so.

Seek the Lord.

If we seek Him, He is faithful to show us His ways. Sometimes it takes a while of seeking to have answers, but I know that persistence is what He desires from us. In my experience, it’s my heart that is changed to align with His will. May we ever seek to be in His Word and His presence, striving to live life in light of the Word.

Be intentional.

Always. May we not just do things willy-nilly. I pray that we always are intentional in all that we do. Not that we shouldn’t be spontaneous, but even in that we should be loving and giving and living intentionally.

Choose a word.

In 2017, I chose to be determined. When I wanted to give up and only jog one mile, I reminded myself to be determined to finish the second. When I was tired and really wanted to actually nap at rest time instead of write, determined came to mind. Instead, I poured a cup of coffee and pushed through. At the end of the day, I’m always glad I pushed through because I accomplished so much more!

I challenge you to choose a word and stick to it throughout the year. You’ll be amazed at how much that one word can help!

Why not New Year’s Resolutions?

In my opinion, resolutions don’t work because there’s not much dedication. We wait until someday later (New Year’s) to do something we should have been doing all along–eating healthy, Bible reading, being a better mom, learning a skill, exercising…you name it. And then we give up because life gets in the way. We’re too tired, or it’s too expensive.

• Start today.
• Don’t wait for the new year to make a change.
• Pray over your goals and seek the Lord in everything you do.
• Write things down and check them off. (I love my Bloom Daily Planner for this!)

I am convinced that if we align our hearts to His, whether we make resolutions or not, our year will be amazing. Not to say that it won’t be hard, but it will be amazing!