With Christmas in the rearview mirror, many people are setting their sights on the new year, and with that, the resolutions they make to improve their quality of life.

However, if you do choose to set goals for the year, make sure they’re realistic and achievable so you can set yourself up for success, says Linda Golik, Health and Wellbeing Consultant with Emplify Health by Bellin. And give yourself grace. Allow yourself to change or modify those goals if necessary.

“Put some time on your calendar where you’re going to be able to chuck away at accomplishing that goal,” Golik says. “And set little mini goals for yourself, whether those are weekly, monthly, every six months. Then periodically check in with yourself to see how you’re doing.”

If, for instance, you goal is to lose weight, think about what areas of your life affect that goal. Look perhaps, at the food you’re eating or consider how much exercise you get on a daily basis.

“Are you getting a variety of foods in your diet? Are you meal prepping? Can you take an afternoon one day a week to plan out your meals to know what you’re going to eat in the week ahead?” Golik says. “In terms of exercise, trying to get in some different movements in terms of cardio, strength training, stretching, and putting 30-minute blocks on your calendar.”

But goals don’t always have to revolve around physical health. Maybe you can simply make a commitment to journal more, take up a new hobby, read more or mediate each day.

“Any goals can help enrich your life”, Golik says.

She added that having a goal buddy can help keep you accountable to your goals throughout the year, as well as celebrate when you’re achieved what you set out to do.

photo credit: MS stock image

Published on: Dec 31, 2025 at 10:38 am