After the excitement of New Year’s passes and the reality of day-to-day life returns, many of us struggle with the lofty resolutions we so naively vowed to on Dec. 31. By mid-January, that daily run, weekly meal prep, and 10 p.m. bedtime start to become less and less maintainable. As someone who struggles with the vicious cycle of attempting new, healthier habits only to fall back into my old routines, I’m confident I’ve cracked the code to staying loyal to my resolutions. Read on to find out how I’ve used small changes to help make 2026 my year!
Dec. 1:
The start … kind of. In preparation for this article, I hoped to come up with a very out-there resolution — something with shock-value — that could both make an eye-catching article and also impress my friends with my dedication. But as I brushed my teeth that morning, I looked at my roll of dental floss and realized that maybe the best goal isn’t something life-altering, but one that’s always been right at the tip of my fingers.
Dec. 7:
By the following week, flossing my teeth twice a day was becoming an instinctual part of my daily routine. I believe I speak for the vast majority of people when I say I never took flossing seriously. And honestly, beyond brushing my teeth twice a day and wearing my retainer, I don’t know a lot about dental health — partly due to my efforts to spend as little time in the dentist’s chair as possible. My thought process behind this resolution was less about having the whitest teeth in all of San Diego and more about making a small change that is, in the long term, much better for me.
Dec. 31:
By the end of the month, I was surprised by the longevity of my seemingly small resolution. Perhaps it was because of the head start I gave myself in December. That’s not to say I didn’t falter a bit on the way; I spent the last two weeks of December in India, and between traveling to see family and fighting with my brother over the only sink, there were many days I left my floss buried in my suitcase. I initially felt disappointed in myself for breaking the consistency I had built up over a few weeks. But the beauty of having such a simple yet easily implementable resolution was that I could just quickly pull out a little strand and get right back on schedule.
At a certain point, I forgot that flossing was even a resolution, and it became just a standard part of my daily routine. Yet, on New Year’s Eve, as the fireworks burst and my friends asked me what my resolution was, I couldn’t bring myself to say, “Flossing twice a day.” I felt an odd pressure to say something more life-changing, so I told them I might pick up yoga.
Today:
Despite the initial shame for my resolution being “just” flossing, I have continued to fight gum disease one tooth at a time! The truth is, I don’t believe New Year’s resolutions really matter — you can start a resolution at any time in the year. In fact, if you haven’t set a resolution yet and feel a little guilty, take this article as your sign to start your new goal! The beauty of a new year is that it comes with a fresh start; it’s an opportunity and an excuse to take more agency in your life. But it’s important to know that it’s your life. The changes you make should be changes you want, not the ones others expect. And change is not something that happens the moment the ball drops in Times Square — it’s a slow process.
What I felt was most helpful in seeing this goal through wasn’t constantly trying to remember to do it but thinking about what choices could make my life incrementally better and healthier. You don’t need to go on a strict sugar cleanse, but you can start switching out processed snacks with fresh fruit. Start looking for fun recipes to cook with your roommates instead of stocking up on Buldak. Rather than completely cutting caffeine, drink black coffee instead of energy drinks.
You don’t need to be miserable or feel an immense amount of pressure in order to become the “new you” you want to see this year. Our lives are constantly changing, and small acts can easily evolve into new possibilities. And once you succeed and feel confident in one goal, the next step feels much more attainable. So, as you push through with your resolutions, don’t feel ashamed to double down; take a smaller step right now, so by next December, the big steps won’t feel so big anymore!
