Life Kit How to set resolutions you'll actually keep
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Jan 1, 2026 
Gretchen Rubin, a bestselling author known for her insights on habits and happiness, shares invaluable tips for making New Year's resolutions that stick. She emphasizes the importance of setting specific and realistic goals rather than vague aspirations. Rubin also discusses how to identify personal motivations behind your goals and stresses the significance of accountability. If you fall off track, she offers suggestions for reframing or lowering your expectations, encouraging a creative approach to yearly planning while remaining open to life's unpredictability.
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Make Resolutions Specific
- Make resolutions specific so you can clearly know at night whether you kept them.
- Replace vague goals like "eat healthfully" with concrete actions like "pack a homemade lunch every day."
Don't Follow Others' 'Should' Goals
- Avoid resolutions you adopt only because others tell you to.
- If you commit, make a concrete plan; otherwise admit it's not the right season for it.
Clarify Your 'Why'
- Knowing why you want a goal helps you stay committed.
- Different motivations (energy, sleep, focus) change how you design the habit.