“New Year, New You” - Why I won’t be making resolutions in 2025…

As we welcome another year, it's hard to escape the onslaught of "New Year, New You" narratives. Gyms are packed, diaries are filled with ambitious plans, and the collective optimism for reinvention swirls around like confetti. And yet, for all its promise, the pressure to overhaul our lives can often feel more suffocating than inspiring.

I’ve been there. Many times, I’ve felt the need to turn my world upside down when January rolled around. I’d convince myself that the only way to improve was to change everything—from career goals to fitness regimes, social habits - read 25 self help books by end of Jan, no problem!. "Out with the old, in with the new" would become my mantra. But more often than not, this approach left me burnt out, overwhelmed, and right back where I started, but this time with that overwhelming feeling of failure for company.

Looking back, I can see that this all-or-nothing mindset was slightly flawed. By setting grandiose expectations, I was essentially setting myself up to fail. Change is rarely instantaneous, and attempting to tackle everything at once created a mental load that was as unsustainable as it was unnecessary. Like many, I equated a lack of immediate results with a lack of capability, which only compounded the disappointment.

Part of the problem is that New Year’s resolutions often seem rooted in a sense of inadequacy. They subtly whisper: "You’re not enough. Do more. Be more." But when we start from a place of self-criticism, it becomes difficult to focus on what truly matters. The result? A scattered approach and goals that feel more like obligations than opportunities.

Enter a small, yet profound shift in thinking. A few years ago, I stumbled upon the idea—popularised by Melinda Gates—of picking a single word to guide the year, rather than a list of resolutions. Instead of promising herself to achieve countless metrics or milestones, she would choose a word like "grace," "progress," or "focus" as her anchor. This approach resonated with me deeply. It’s not about radically transforming who you are but guiding yourself gently towards the person you want to become.

I’ve also learned that sometimes it’s the smallest, simplest changes that yield the biggest results. For instance, a few years ago, rather than attempting to overhaul my entire schedule in the name of productivity, I decided to focus on just a few key habits: starting my day by reflecting on my to-do list, tackling one daunting task I’d been avoiding, and setting aside intentional time for myself. Reviewing my priorities helped me approach the day with clarity; addressing those "hard tasks" gave me a sense of accomplishment that carried me through the rest of the day; and carving out personal time—even if just 15 minutes—recharged my energy and prevented burnout. I’m not always perfect and some days, I don’t practice what I preach, but I do my best and know that on my good days, this works for me.

Another shift that made a difference was connecting more with people in my network. I started reaching out to old colleagues or friends for a quick catch-up, even if it was just a short message. These interactions not only reinvigorated my personal and professional connections but also reminded me of the importance of community and support in achieving long-term goals.

So, if the "New Year, New Me" ethos leaves you feeling more daunted than determined, here’s my advice: let go of the pressure to be perfect or to do everything all at once. Pick one area of your life you’d like to improve and start small. Maybe you’ll choose to focus on personal growth by reading books that challenge your perspective, dedicate ten minutes a day to building your professional network, or make a conscious effort to connect meaningfully with one person each week. Maybe you’ll even take a page from Melinda Gates’ playbook and find a single word that encapsulates the theme of what you want your year to be.

Resolutions don’t have to be grand declarations. They can be quiet promises to yourself, sprinkled with self-compassion and kindness when you don’t keep them. Committing to small changes over time leads to great progress, we often underestimate just how much.

Full disclosure, my word for 2025 is ‘connection’…..