New Year’s Resolutions… Some love them, some hate them.
But resolutions don’t have to be hard. And they don’t have to start on New Years!
We have 101 New Year’s Resolution Ideas for 2020 that will help spark ideas to find one you love.
Resolutions, goals, plans, whatever you want to call them, are always good to have. They motivate you, push you, and help you stick to what you are trying to achieve to help make you better.
The Allure of New Year’s Resolution Ideas
A New Year’s Resolution is just something that helps set your mind right for the brand new year. It’s a blank slate. You have a whole 365 days (366 in 2020!) to start new habits you want to make, take control of situations you want to change, and start bettering yourself to be the person you want to be.
How to Stick With Your New Year’s Resolution
Sticking with a resolution can be tough, and some people may see it as setting yourself up to fail, but it doesn’t have to be.
Make Realistic Goals
Don’t add a goal to read an entire book every day of the year, or to travel to every continent before your 365 days is up. Be realistic.
Reading one book ever month is a good start. Or how about visiting one continent you’ve never been? Think about what you will be able to achieve in the next year that you would love to do, and start working towards that goal.
Set Smaller Goals
Do you have one huge goal you hope to achieve within the year? Try setting smaller goals that will help get you to that huge goal. You have 12 full months to do your huge goal, so instead of getting overwhelmed, break it down into 12 smaller steps that will help you make your goal.
I really want to learn Polish before we have children, so we can teach our children Polish and English before they go to school. That’s a HUGE task! If you don’t know, Polish is one of the hardest languages to learn.
So instead of psyching myself out from the beginning and feeling like I can’t do such a huge thing, I’m going to break it down. I plan to spend 3 hours a week reading a Polish for Dummies Book, and 2 hours a week working with a Polish app.
Breaking it down this way makes my goal so much more manageable and is something I know I can do. But at the end of the year when I have been learning Polish for 260 hours, I’ll be a lot closer to being fluent than I would if I just gave up at the beginning.
Do Something You Get Excited About
A New Year’s Resolution should be something you really want to do, or something you get excited about changing or adding to your life. Want something in your life to change? Then you’ll probably be a bit more motivated to make your resolution happen.
I absolutely love blogging! Never would have thought I would love spending 50 hours a week on my computer, but I really do. If I have a blog goal to publish one post every week, I’m more likely to do that because it’s something I actually love.
And no, New Year’s Resolutions are not always fun. Sometimes it’s to quit something you are having a hard time giving up (like smoking)…sometimes its making yourself do something you don’t really like (like giving up sugar, or running)…and sometimes it’s pushing yourself to spend the time loving others and loving yourself better. That’s something we all should be doing.
Get Specific
When you set your New Year’s Goals, be sure to get specific. You want to be able to measure your goal. Saying “I want to read more” can just mean reading one book this year, when you didn’t read any last year. (And if that’s your resolution, then great!)
But if you want to read more, add a goal to read one book each month…or each quarter…or 3 books in a year. Whatever your goal, just be specific.
Give Yourself a Little Wiggle Room
Kind of along the lines of being realistic, make sure you give yourself room to mess up, to skip a month, or to have a cheat day.
I like to aim a little lower than I think I can actually do, because that means I won’t fail, and it also gives me a little forgiveness for myself when I end up missing a month when life gets busy.
So instead of read a book for 12 months, knowing December is always our busiest month and I probably won’t get there, I will make my goal to read 10 books this new year.
What Happens When You Have A New Resolution after New Years?
So what if your Resolutions or Goals start February 8th, or September 15th?!
I decided I wanted to start journal on February 8th, 2009…and guess what? I’ve been journaling for 10 years straight now! It’s not about the day being January 1st and that’s the only time you can change your life. Start your goals and resolutions now no matter what day it is!
101 New Year’s Resolution Ideas for you to start in 2020
We have listed 101 New Year’s Resolution Ideas for you to start in 2020, all from other women doing the same. Here were some of our favorites…
Resolution Ideas For Your Relationships
Love My Husband More
Dates with S.O. – We have 101 Date Ideas For You!
Getting Out With My Husband- Date Night Out Not Just at Home
Say Yes to A Date
Spend More Time With the Kids
Make New Friends
Call My Parents More
Send Cards to People I Love – birthdays, special occasions, for no reason
Spend a Day Alone With Each Kid
Spend More Time With Family
Call or FaceTime People More…Not Just Text
Take a Family Member to Lunch Once a Month
Find A Hobby to do With My Husband- Here are 50 Fun Hobbies for Couples
Resolution Ideas For Self-Care
Spend Less Time On Social Media
Live Today for Today
Find Joy in Every Day
Stay Away From Toxic People/Situations
Verbalize something good about yourself every day
Do the Things I Keep Putting Off -No more “I’ll get to it” just do it
Do Things That Scare You
Spend Less Time on My Phone
Pray More
Meditate More
Be a Better Listener
Stop Comparing Self to Others
Stop Complaining
Be More Kind to Myself
Better Sleep Schedule
Stop Biting Nails
Wake Up Earlier
Use Less Heat on My Hair
Better Posture
Start a Morning Routine
Better Care for My Skin
Start Counseling
Be More Mindful of My Time
Stop Caring What Other People Think
Do More of What Makes Me Happy
Say Yes!
Don’t Be Afraid to Say No
Move Somewhere I Want to Live
Less Swearing
Resolution Ideas For Hobbies
Journal Everyday
Read a Book A Month
Take a Picture a Day
Visit New Places – Check out our Travel Section!
Every month, 3 times this year, one country, etc
Try New Recipes
Write More
Dance More
Learn a New Language
Take Cooking Classes
Gratitude Journal
Create More – write, paint, draw, craft, etc.
Learn to Do Hand Lettering
Resolution Ideas for Your Health
Quit Smoking
Drink More Water
Run a Marathon
Go to Spin Class
Do Yoga
Workout 3 Times a Week
Hike More
Eat Clean Foods
Whole30 for 30 days
No Drinking
Improve Gut Health
No Fast Food
Walk More, More Steps in a Day
No Soda
Eat Less Sugar
Stretch Each Day
Go Green -No Chemicals in House, cleaning supplies, detergent, makeup, hair, etc
Meal Prep
Resolution Ideas for Money
Pay Off Debt
Put xxx in savings each month – See New Year’s Resolutions for Couples to Save Money
Improve Credit Score
Stick to a Budget
Cook At Home More to Save Money
No Spend Months
Not Buy Clothes All Year
Find a Side Hustle I Love
Resolution Ideas for Your House
Organize House
Minimize Stuff in House- Get Rid of Stuff
Get My To-Do List Done
No Dirty Dishes in the Sink Overnight
Redecorate
Start a Family Chore Chart
Put Stuff Away When I Get Home
Resolutions Ideas for Your Career
Grow Your Business
Quit My Job
Ask for the Promotion/Raise
Launch a Podcast
Start a Blog
Better Work/Life Balance
Find a Career I Love
Attend a Conference for My Career
Resolutions for Giving Back
Get Involved in the Community
Use Less Plastic
Help Reduce My Carbon Footprint
Volunteer at a Homeless Shelter
Donate My Unused or Unwanted Clothes
Recycle More
What are your goals and resolutions this year? Pin these below to keep this list and do as many as you’d like!
Sara, a seasoned expert in wedding planning and date ideas, brings a wealth of experience to our couples blog. With a background in the television industry and hands-on involvement in a dozen weddings, including working as a wedding assistant on "My Fair Wedding with David Tutera," Sara has an innate understanding of the magic that makes weddings truly special. Growing up with four sisters has given her unique insights into the dating world, making her a go-to source for practical and heartfelt dating advice. Her knowledge and enthusiasm make her the perfect guide for couples seeking to infuse their relationships with creativity and love.