We all know and love the motivation that comes with a New Year. We open Pinterest, make a board titled “New Year, New Me” and suddenly expect the upcoming year to be THE year: the year where you finally improve every little detail about yourself. But, unfortunately, a combination of face masks, Pinterest, cleaning, and a Spotify playlist is not the recipe for a good year. In fact, over 81% of resolutions made in the new year end in early February. So how are you going to become the best version of yourself in 2026? Here’s the reason why the “New Year, New Me” mindset doesn’t work and, more importantly, what does!
Step One: Stop creating unrealistic goals for yourself. “A life that is burdened with expectations is a heavy life. Its fruit is sorrow and disappointment.” – Douglas Adams. I know it is tempting to say that you are going to work out an hour everyday. But let’s be honest, for most of us at least, that is going to be a very difficult and perhaps impossible task. Saying you want to achieve a big goal without creating and investing time into a gradual plan is like expecting that you are going to get all A’s without studying or doing homework. It’s just not going to happen and it won’t work without a realistic plan. That is to say: celebrate the small achievements. Without recognizing and being proud of the little things that you accomplish, you will begin to feel undervalued and begin to seek validation from others, and that is the opposite of what we want. “To overestimate myself is to make myself my own god. To underestimate myself is to make myself my own demon. And the curse of both is that they are one in the same” – Goodreads.
Step Two: Maintain your motivation. “Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough” – Og Mandino. According to the article “The Science Behind Why Motivation Is Important For Success and Growth” by The Industry Leaders, motivation is truly what initiates actions and creates habits. Motivation isn’t simply just a vision board: it’s an activation of neural pathways that alter daily habits. With an increase in motivation, humans are driven to embrace challenges and to set ambitious goals, extending beyond individual achievements and actually reflecting on societal progress. Tracking your progress throughout the goals aforementioned is the key to maintaining motivation. Some use the SMART method: making Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals that reflect who you are and what you value. “The only thing that stands between you and your dream is the will to try and the belief that is actually possible” – Brian Tracy.
Step Three: Recognize what you need to fix. Bruce Lee said it best: “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.” As you look around, you will recognize that we live in a society that appreciates aesthetic and beauty over reality. That’s why we constantly reach for pinterest for inspiration rather than recognizing that we are surrounded by beauty. The truth is that a Pinterest Board does not reflect who you truly are, but rather you are shaped by your experiences, both good and bad. So, take a moment to reflect on who you are, who you value, and what you want to change. This will not come easily, especially if you have been living a life based off of what other people want from you. Start recognizing that you are the center of your life and that you control it. You will never be fulfilled if you live to other people’s standards. “You have no responsibility to live up to what other people think you ought to accomplish” – Richard Feynman.
Step Four: Tell no one. “Don’t tell people your plans. Show them your results” – Ave Mateiu. Science proves that telling someone your goals makes them harder to achieve because it may be a result of seeking validation. This situation also creates a false sense of accomplishment by tricking your brain into feeling like you’ve already succeeded, thus reducing motivation by triggering the brain’s dopamine reward system. Peter Gollwitzer’s research on this topic proved that those who announced their goals stopped working before those that kept their goals secret because the validation satisfied their need for accomplishment. Moreover, articles on Medium describe how explaining your goals to others can drain the energy needed for action. “Move in silence, let your victories speak. The world doesn’t need to hear your plans—only your checkmate.” – Unknown.
