The Best New Year Resolution That You’ll Actually Enjoy Keeping

The best new year resolution is actually something that nobody’s talking about.

The New Year symbolizes a time of reflection and a fresh start. It’s understood that what you do is make resolutions and add things to your bucket list. Then you start doing them on January 1. We do it that way, because it’s what we’ve always done. But the real reason why I think most resolutions fail…

Is because everyone is making them at the wrong time.

And this is where the best new year resolution comes into the picture.

Think about it.

You’re finishing up December—the busiest month of the year—and probably the month where you’ve spent the most money. You just made it through the holidays—the parties, presents, and plays have drained the life out of you.

So—right now you’re physically tired, emotionally partied out, and maybe even financially stretched. Then, to top it off, you’re crammed for time to make resolutions. And, because you’re a mom, you literally feel like you never have enough time, let alone time to think about the new year.

Sweet mom, you deserve better. The best new year resolution is to take the whole month of January off.

The Best New Year Resolution Idea

Yep, you read that right! The best new year resolution idea is to take the whole month of January off.

Okay, so when I say take the whole month of January off—I don’t really mean literally take it off. You’ve got responsibilities and your family needs to eat and wear clothes. What I really mean is to take the whole month of January to intentionally focus on what this next year to look like for you and your family.

A Simple New Year Resolution

A few years ago I started to recognize something that was consistently happening in my own life. Life was so busy and full in the months of November and December that by the time New Year’s hit, I was ready for a break.

And we all should be, right?!!

So, when it came to making the best new year resolution, settings goals, and planning for the new year, I didn’t do anything for the whole month of January. I didn’t have the strength—emotionally, mentally, or physically to do it! And by the time February came around, I started filling out my planner and setting goals for the new year. Because I took January off to intentionally focus and reset things, I finally felt like I had a good plan and was working on what really mattered to me. The pressure was off! Instead of trying to cram things into a few days, I really got to think through things.

It was the best new year resolution for the new year and the most simple new year resolution that I’ve ever had! And I’ve kept the same resolution every year since, just refining it a little more each year.

If you’re ready for the best new year—one that you’ll actually look forward to keeping—I’ve put together a little more structure for you to try out an Intentional Reset. For the month of January this is what I do—I call it the 4 R’s. It’s simple to remember and easy to do.

4 R’s of The Best New Year Resolution

While others focus on resolutions that last throughout the year, I’ve learned that if I keep my resolution simple by making it primarily the month of January, then I can truly keep the resolution! And it’s the best new year resolution because it creates a firm foundation for me accomplishing more focused intentional goals for the rest of the year.

So what is my new year resolution? For the month of January, I break up my month into specific weekly areas of focus. I then intentionally focus on that area for one whole week. Here’s a basic overview of what that looks like:

1. Rest — Week 1

Take some time to rest and recover from the most busiest time of the year. Say no to any extra commitments. Take some time to refill by doing some things that you really enjoy. Get up early and take a brisk winter morning walk. For me, rest is really an intentional act of self care.

2. Reflect — Week 2

Think about, journal, and remember the highlights from the past year. what things worked well, what things didn’t go well, and what things would you like to change, what things you’d like to try.

3. Reorganize — Week 3

Look over goals, systems, methods you have for doing things, planners, and clean things out! Take those things you reflected on and get rid of what didn’t work.

4. Reload — Week 4

Pull together a master plan for your year. This doesn’t have to be too complicated, I promise! Start simple by looking at how you naturally do things. Are you a visual learner? Do you like to check things off a list? Are you driven by goals? Use the answer to these questions to help determine what a master plan could look like for you.

For me, I set SMART goals related to the seven areas of life—spiritual, emotional, cognitive, family, marriage, financial, physical. I keep track of my goal progress using a daily planner. My absolute favorite is The Better Planner by Living Our Priorities. It helps me to focus on God’s priorities and keeping them in order in my life.

I’m also a visual person, so I also use a command center that highlights the weekly menu. It also helps my husband to know what’s for dinner. It may seem simple, but this really helps him a lot.

If you feel like your priorities are in order and you’d like to really track specific goal progress, I’d recommend using PowerSheets It’s an intentional goal planner that I used in the past, while I absolutely loved using them, I’ve made my goal process a lot simpler over the years. If you’re drawn to setting goals, naturally fill out a planner, and follow your planner religiously—PowerSheets is a great tool for you. If you have a bunch of half used planners that are stuck in a pile in your basement, you might want to start with something a little more simple.

Start the Year With Hope and Peace

As moms, often we get caught up in just living life as it happens. I get it. You and I have so much that we juggle as moms. So, it can feel like what we’re doing doesn’t really matter.

But, what you do does really matter.

Imagine this, God in His Word gives us hope and peace in the words I have a plan for you found in Jeremiah 29:11;

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (NLT)

God chose you to be the mom to your kids. It was His plan—for good, not disaster, for a hope and a future. If God modeled that for us in His Word—what we do as a mom gives our family hope and peace too.

When you choose to take the month of January off—or take time to Intentional Reset things for your new year resolution—you’re doing one of the best things you can do as a mom. You’re starting the new year by setting a tone of hope and peace in your home. If you don’t do this, and decided to do one of the more talked about and most popular new year resolutions, chances are you’ll be frazzled and overwhelmed for the beginning of the new year and your family will be too.

I know both sides to that story and trust me, the best resolution for the new year is to take January off.

How will you start your new year?

I recently read this quote from Plato in a new years quotes list—and it really sums this all up for me.

“The beginning is the most important part of the work.” —Plato

This couldn’t be more true about taking the month of January to intentionally reset things by resting, reflecting, reorganizing, and reloading. If you’re an overwhelmed mom—this really is the best new year resolution. It will totally give you the fresh start for the new year—the fresh start that you’re craving.

What do you think?

Are you going to start the beginning of your year this way? Does taking January off sound like the best new year resolution to you? Make sure to grab the Fresh Start Guide to help you to reflect on the past and look forward with a plan and hope for the future.