"I don't do resolutions," I recently heard a favorite podcaster say. I was surprised by her words because she'd always promoted goal-setting and moving forward with purpose. But she got me thinking…what is a resolution, anyway?
One dictionary defines it as "a promise to oneself to start doing something good or stop doing something bad." This tells us that resolutions aren't vows to God or signed contracts with other people. Rather, they are personal commitments we plan to keep but can choose to let go.
If you're rethinking your New Year's resolutions, here are 6 reasons you might want to give them up.
1. You're Flat-Out Tired
During the Christmas season, when the lights were twinkling and the peppermint creamer was pouring, you might have felt a surge of excitement for the new year. And in your enthusiasm, you might have made a resolution you could not keep.
If your New Year's goals are exhausting, and you feel like throwing in the towel, here are a few questions to ask yourself:
-Do I actually have the bandwidth (time, energy, resources) to complete this resolution?
-Does it fit my personality, gifts, and strengths?
-Can I tweak it to be more attainable?
-Will I breathe a sigh of relief by giving it up?
If you're flat-out tired at the thought of achieving your resolution, by all means, set it aside. But keep in mind, you can still accomplish a portion of it if you like. Instead of striving for the gold, why not be content with silver or bronze? Here are a few examples:
-Instead of reorganizing every room in the house, complete on one room or level.
-Instead of hiking that fourteener, hike shorter trails more often.
-Instead of writing an entire book, outline your chapters and perfect your intro.
By dividing your resolutions into small, achievable steps, you'll feel a lot more motivated and inspired. And if it still feels overwhelming, give it up and try something different. It's a choice you can make guilt-free.
2. Your Resolution Feels Forced
2. Your Resolution Feels Forced
Perhaps you're someone who took that quiz on social media, giving you a "word" for the year. You liked that word and shared it with all your followers. But somewhere along the way, you started to feel pressured by that word. And under pressure, you made a resolution that now feels forced.
Why not take a few days to pray and ask God for wisdom? Let Him know what you're thinking and ask Him to clarify the word you received. Keep a journal of what the Holy Spirit presses on your heart and lean heavily on the Scriptures for insight.
Here are a few things the Lord might nudge you to do:
-Exchange your resolution for another
-Focus more on your relationship with Him
-Study your "word for the year" according to the Bible
-Let go of self-expectation and rest in Him
Remember Jesus' words from Matthew 11:28-30 when He said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Resolutions come and go, but the peaceful presence of the Lord is our daily desire. Jesus invites us to offload burdensome expectations and take on His gentle yoke of rest and assurance.
Photo credit: ©Unsplash/Hannah Olinger
3. You're Pivoting in a New Direction
3. You're Pivoting in a New Direction
Sometimes, it makes the most sense to give up on a resolution in order to pivot in a new direction. Often, this presents itself as a crossroads where a new opportunity is available, and the old resolution seems more like a dead end.
When faced with this situation, it's helpful to write down the pros and cons of pivoting vs. staying on the current path. Pray for clarity, asking God to confirm the pivot through His Word, trusted mentors, and peace of mind.
Giving up the old to pursue the new is sometimes the best course of action, as the Lord said through the prophet, Isaiah, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." (Isaiah 43:18-19)
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/BartekSzewczyk
4. Your Resolution Is Breeding Discontentment
4. Your Resolution Is Breeding Discontentment
Are you miserable trying to incorporate your resolution? Is it breeding a sense of angst and discontentment?
One of my resolutions is to run a 5K this year, but if training for it becomes drudgery, I'm not going to stick with it. I will, however, choose something else that promotes health and wellness—something that makes me feel invigorated and excited to accomplish it.
The thing about discontentment, when left unaddressed, is it often leads to poor habits such as overeating, over drinking, binge-watching, or bouts of depression. Therefore, there's absolutely no reason to continue a resolution that fosters discontentment.
Ultimately, it's ok to admit New Year's resolutions aren't for you. And once you're honest about it, you can breathe a sigh of relief. It was Nehemiah who said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)
Don't let a self-made promise steal your joy. Rejoice in the freedom God gives to keep your resolution or let it go. Truly, the joy of the Lord is your strength, so rejoice and be glad in Him!
5. Your Loved Ones Need You
5. Your Loved Ones Need You
It could be your New Year's resolution is going well for you, but your loved ones are needing more of your time than you anticipated. In this case, you have a few options to consider:
-Stick to your resolution, but go at a slower pace
-Give it up for now, with the intention of resuming it later
-Request help from extended family members or friends
-Accept this season for what it is and let your resolution go
While it isn't easy giving up your goals and desires, there are particular seasons when your time and attention is needed elsewhere. Commit your plans to the Lord, asking Him to help you rise to the occasion. Don't be afraid to set healthy boundaries when needed and ask for help to avoid overwhelm.
If the needs of loved ones are requiring you to give up your New Year's resolution, trust the Lord to bless your selfless acts of service and give you peace in the situation. This, too, shall pass, and you'll be back to setting new resolutions before you know it.
6. You're Revisiting Last Year's Resolutions
6. You're Revisiting Last Year's Resolutions
When praying for God's direction for the new year, He led me to a unique passage in 2 Corinthians 8:10-11, which says, "And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have."
I found myself deeply convicted by these verses because there were many things from the previous year, I'd left undone. It was as if God was giving me permission to revisit those goals and complete them before moving on.
New Year's resolutions aren't always new. If there are things from the past you'd love to see completed, take Paul's words to heart and do "what you began and were desiring to do a year ago." In fact, you might have the same resolution for many years to come!
Whatever God places on your heart, do that thing. His timeline is far different from ours, and He isn't bound by New Year's resolutions or self-made promises. Trust Him to lead you in the way you should go, even if it means giving something up.
More Resources for Your Journey:
Blessed Are Those Who Need Help with Their New Year's Resolutions
A Prayer for a Different Kind of Resolution Setting
Related Resource: How Gratitude Can Quiet Your Anxiety
"He who fears he shall suffer, already suffers what he fears." - Michel de Montaigne. This guy said that in the 1500s… so anxiety has been around for a while. In this episode of Talk About That, we talk about fear and worry - is there a way to get better at worry? Can we worry less in 2025? Is that a resolution we can keep? Listen in to our conversation about gratitude and actively looking for the good in the world as an antidote for anxiety. If you laughed out loud listening to this episode, be sure to subscribe to Talk About That on Apple and Spotify!
Originally published January 14, 2025.
