Make Resolutions Stick, with ZEN-it!

ZEN-it Team

06 Jan 2025

Image shows a person listing out goals for 2025, with colourful postits strewn about. Some of the goals on the post-its include - Get a better job, Reduce Stress, More Family Time etc.

The start of the year is a time of promise. A time when we feel abuzz with opportunity and potential. When almost anything seems within reach!

And in that giddiness, we tend to remind ourselves of past and future goals and desires - and we coax ourselves to commit to positive actions, full of hope and resolve.

Feeling that thrumming energy and dedication is a real high. Unfortunately, things don’t stay that way. Positivity gives way to realism. Resolve crumbles before logistics. And commitment gets sidelined by competing priorities and responsibilities.

Whether your resolutions focus on your health, productivity, or well-being, keeping those resolutions, with the right approach, you can stay committed and thrive.

Here's how you can stick to your New Year's resolutions this year, with a little help from ZEN-it.

1. Start with Mindful Intentions

Image shows a woman writing in her diary. She is focused as she sets clear intentions for her goals.

The first step to achieving any resolution is setting an intention that is both meaningful and attainable. Mindfulness helps you connect with your goals on a deeper level, with a more purposive, intended approach.

For example, instead of a vague goal like “get fitter,” a specific intention like “I will meditate for 10 minutes each morning to reduce stress” can give more purpose and anchor our goals, making it easier to stick to them.

2. Break it Down!

The key to achieving long-term goals is breaking them down into smaller, manageable steps. For example, if your resolution is to read more books, commit to reading just one chapter, or ten pages, a day. By setting minimum values, you can help yourself show up and attempt to continue your resolutions, without inhibiting or minimising your progress and ability to achieve more, as you form habits and get into routines.

3. Create a Routine

Image shows a close up of a diary, with a daily schedule of a person.

This leads us to the next point. Routine is essential for habit formation. A well-structured routine helps you make resolutions a part of your everyday life. By scheduling activities relating to your resolution at the most optimal times each day, and by planning out important parts of your days and weeks, you can work your resolutions in such a way that carrying them out doesn’t feel forced. As you continue, you will find them blending into your routine seamlessly, helping you form the habit.

There are many apps available to help create routines for habit formation. ZEN-it’s app can be helpful in setting mindful intentions and following them through by scheduling appropriate tasks and leveraging ZEN-it’s many useful features.

Here's how you do it:

a. Identify a large goal. Ex: Participate in Women's Day 5K Run.

b. Now break down how this can be achieved. Ex: First 5 days - 1K walk, next 5 days - 1.5K walk etc.

c. Set recurring tasks on ZEN-it or integrate external calendars.

d. Use the Uplift section of ZEN-it to stay motivated and mindful of the goal.

e. Check off tasks, look up achievement badges on ZEN-it and share with your commitment partners!

4. Track your Progress

Consistency is key to any resolution. And one significant motivator is to track your progress, mapping what works and what doesn’t.

Visually seeing your growth can motivate you to stay on course. Of course, celebrate small wins along the way to stay inspired! If you’re using an app like ZEN-it, you may find visual cues relating to your progress in the Priority Wizard or Task List screen, and of course, in the Analytics and Achievements screens!

5. Be Kind to Yourself

Image shows a woman in her home, relaxed and calm as she places two hands on her heart.

Having said all this: remember, there will be hits and missing. Stumbles are not the end of the world. If you miss a day of meditation or don’t hit your fitness goal right away, don’t be hard on yourself. Embrace self-compassion, stay grounded and focused, even when things don’t go as planned.

Ready to stick to the Plan this year?

By applying these strategies and incorporating mindful productivity into your day-to-day life, you can stick to your New Year's resolutions and make 2025 your most balanced year yet. Here's to your growth, one mindful step at a time.

FAQs

Why do most people fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions?

We fail because our goals are often vague, overly ambitious, or lack clear action plans. Additionally, if we do not track or adjust our routines based on progress, motivation will start to wane as the initial excitement fades. External factors such as time constraints, unexpected responsibilities, or lack of support can further derail progress.

What are some common mistakes people make while setting resolutions?

Setting unrealistic or overly broad goals.
Focusing on outcomes (e.g., "lose weight") rather than actionable steps (e.g., "exercise for 20 minutes daily").
Not aligning resolutions with personal values or passions, leading to a lack of genuine motivation.
Failing to plan for setbacks, resulting in discouragement when challenges arise.

How can accountability help in sticking to resolutions?

Accountability provides external motivation and a sense of responsibility. Sharing goals with friends, family, or a community can encourage follow-through. Apps like ZEN-it enhance accountability by reminding users of pending tasks, tracking progress visually, and also offers self-care guidance, during this journey. When others or tools hold us accountable, it becomes easier to stay committed.

Ready to Redefine Productivity? Start your journey with ZEN-it today!