New Year, New Me: How Small Goals Guide Big Progress

As 2025 draws to a close and the New Year begins, many of us find ourselves back at the drawing board for New Year’s Resolutions. Big resolutions, such as “exercising every day” or “going vegan,” might be hard to achieve or just downright unattainable. That doesn’t mean we need to give up on making lifestyle changes; it just means making small and meaningful steps instead of large leaps.

Creating smaller goals as a foundation for larger ones can be a significant game-changer. A few potential benefits include:

• Preventing/slowing burnout

• Making goals more personal 

• Keeping goals specific

Shrinking the scope of your goal is a great idea for building a foundation for the future. After all, how can major changes ever get made if we never get the ball rolling?

So, how can we set goals that fulfill our desire to grow while also serving as realistic steps towards the future? One way is to follow the SMART acronym for goal framing. 

Specific - Instead of broad goals like “dress nicer,” try to make goals specific, such as “plan my outfits each night before work/school” or “wear my nicer shirts to work at least once a week.”

Measurable - Each goal’s progress needs to be trackable, and have a point of success. Compare “eat more vegetables” to “eat one serving of vegetables per day during dinner for a month”. 

Achievable - A goal such as “Make 200k in the next six months” is great, but is it achievable and reasonable? Ensure that your goals are within your financial, emotional, and physical capabilities. 

Relevant - A goal like “Learn to bake Sourdough bread” might be less relevant if you have a gluten allergy. Something more applicable would be “Try out two new gluten-free recipes this month.”

Timely - Goals should come with a deadline to increase motivation. Instead of saying, “I’ll exercise more this year,” try, “I will go to the gym once a week for an hour each time.”

The SMART acronym is a valuable tool that can be applied to various areas of life where changes can be made. 

So, what are some smaller goals that are available to anyone looking to make a change? If you’re looking for a place to start, ask yourself what you’re passionate about. If you want to change your style, set a goal involving clothing type or shopping. Have a problem with your diet? Try weaning off certain foods gradually! If you want to spend more time outdoors, pick a specific activity you enjoy that involves being outside. It is essential to remember that not everything will happen immediately, and significant change often comes naturally through smaller adjustments. 

Ultimately, as the New Year gets underway, it is also key to be kind to yourself. Changing methods or having to stop pursuing a goal entirely is a normal occurrence. Don’t feel beaten down or angry if things don’t go exactly as planned. Instead, use everything that happens in 2026 as a learning experience and a motivator for positive change.