At Feel Good Shop Local, we’re all about feeling good–and firmly believe that getting to feeling good should feel good, too. January is a time for resolutions, but if you’ve ever set one, you know how unlikely they are to stick. According to research, while 38.5% of U.S. adults set New Year’s resolutions annually, only 9% successfully keep them. Additionally, 23% abandon their resolutions within the first week, while only 36% make it past the first month, and the majority give up by mid-February.

So what if, instead of resolutions, we focus on bringing fresh starts into our life? What if, instead of starting something that, statistically speaking, we’re unlikely to achieve, we instead focus on refreshing our habits, spaces, and mindset to make 2025 our best year yet?

Fresh Starts in the New Year

Bring a fresh start to your schedule

• Look through your obligations. See where you can free up things you said yes to that are unnecessary.
• Block out time for the things you love but rarely find the time for, even if they don’t feel like they belong on a typical calendar. Want to read for 30 minutes a day? Block it out. Meditate for 15 minutes each morning? Block it out!
• Reach out to friends you miss and schedule time together, even if it has to be several weeks in advance.
• Share a calendar with your significant other, so that they have visibility into what’s on your metaphorical plate.

Bring a fresh start to your space

• Clear the clutter. If you haven’t used something in several months, pop it up on your local Buy Nothing site, or tuck it away with a promise to get rid of it in 6 months if you haven’t used it.
• Fill your space with what brings you joy. Kick the trends to the curb (unless you love them) and focus less on what you think other people / the internet / future buyers might like.
• Get hygge with it! We recently shared some inspiration on how to add the Danish concept of hygge to your life. Start with your personal spaces.

Bring a fresh start to your phone

• Take a deep breath and check your historical screen time. Look specifically by app to see where you’re spending time that may not be helpful to your overall well being. Are you doom-scrolling for hours on end? Playing games endlessly? (Here’s how to check your screen time on Apple devices, and Android devices.)
• Delete apps that you no longer use, and perhaps more importantly, apps you do use but you want to break up with.
• Make it harder to be mindless. Consider an app locking app that will limit your ability to open apps during a certain time. Many cells phones also have the option to set focus times, where you can limit notifications and also limit what apps you can open. Find more info here.

Bring a fresh start to self care

• Think outside the box. If going to the gym hasn’t historically stuck, ditch the membership and look into other ways to move your body. Look for local walking groups, meet with a personal trainer that is truly invested in you and your personal goals, or try a fun fitness app or YouTube workout series that you can do from the comfort of your own home.
• Exercise your mind. Even for our physical goals, our roadblocks are most often mental. Spend time with a holistic coach, journaling, or reading books that help you understand yourself better.
• Invest in things that make you feel good. Turn your every day, mundane activities into something that feels beautiful to you. Swap the soap in your shower with a handcrafted scent that will remind you of your favorite place. Replace the torn receipt holding your page with a beautiful bookmark. Forgo grocery store bags and bring a favorite tote with you.

Bring a fresh start to goal setting

• Get SMART with your goals. SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time bound) have been around for a long time, but we often don’t apply them outside of a professional setting. Instead of a goal of “exercise more”, opt for a goal of moving your body three times a week
• Create (and celebrate!) small wins. Break down your large goals into smaller goals that will add up. Instead of “Spending less at eating out in 2025,” set a monthly or weekly goal of what you can spend. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back each time you hit the end of the month or the week and have achieved that goal, knowing it’s going to result in impactful change at the end of the year.
• Visualize the feeling of success. Manifestation might feel like a trendy word these days, but your mindset is incredibly important to following through on your goals. Imagining how you feel when you achieve your goals can be a huge internal switch flip in the “mind over matter” game, because isn’t it what we want to feel that drives most of our goals? If you want to save money this year, visualize the security and comfort you will feel knowing you have a certain dollar amount tucked away in the bank. If you want to lose weight, visualize what it will feel like to awaken each day feeling less achey or scared about your annual test physical test results. If you want to read more books, visualize the feeling of being snuggled up and cozy, getting lost in an incredible story.
• Tag in a friend. Share your goals with with a trusted friend who won’t let you slide, but will do so in love. Find someone who matches your energy. If you’re competitive, turn it into an active competition. If that’s not your style, turn to a friend who will act as your cheerleader.

What fresh starts in the new year are you brining into 2025 to make this your best feel good year yet?

The more you know: Interested in the psychology behind why New Year’s resolutions are so entwined with the idea of fresh starts? Read more here!