New Year, New You? Resolutions, Systems, and the Mindset That Matters
(TL;DR): Resolutions alone rarely lead to transformation. Here’s how to pair mindset, systems, and friction removal for real, sustainable growth.
Ah, New Year’s resolutions. For many, they’re a time of hope and fresh starts. For others, they’re an annual exercise in futility.
On one side, we have the skeptics:
"If you need a resolution to get started, you probably weren’t serious in the first place."
Studies show that 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February (University of Scranton, 2016). The reasons? Lack of accountability, unrealistic expectations, and a failure to build sustainable habits.
But then there are the optimists:
"Resolutions are a way to set intentions and hold yourself accountable, especially when others are doing the same."
And they have a point too. Resolutions can act as symbolic milestones, rallying moments where individuals align with their aspirations and sometimes find strength in numbers or accountability partners.
So, where does that leave us? Your truth is likely somewhere in the middle.
I posit that resolutions can work—but only if paired with the right systems, mindset, and attention to barriers. Let’s explore.
Goals, Mindsets, and Flywheels…oh my!
Let’s start with an important point: goals are tricky. Meaning that for some, any goal, including resolutions, can trigger disappointment.
Why? Because for some, missing a goal becomes a personal failure rather than a learning opportunity. This often stems from a fixed mindset, where setbacks can feel like proof of inadequacy. Contrast that with a growth mindset, where a missed goal is simply feedback for improvement (Dweck, 2006).
For example:
Fixed Mindset Response: “I failed to hit my fitness goal. I’m not disciplined enough.”
Growth Mindset Response: “I didn’t hit my fitness goal. What can I adjust to make it more achievable next time?”
The takeaway? Mindset shapes how we perceive and respond to goals. A growth mindset reframes goals not as endpoints but as part of a broader journey.
However, I have observed that sometimes even mindsets aren’t enough: you need a flywheel or a reinforcing system to generate and maintain the momentum of change.
As James Clear reminds us, "You do not rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems." This means that while goals may be aspirations, systems are the machinery that drives consistent progress. Without a system, even the best resolutions falter.
As one example:
The Goal: “I want to read 12 books this year.”
The System: Scheduling 15 minutes of reading each morning and tracking progress in an app. [Pro tip: being ok with missing a few mornings here and then; the point is that most mornings you adhere to the system.]
The system then turns the aspiration into a repeatable habit, increasing the likelihood of success. And the good news? You don’t have to wait until January 1 to start building systems.
Now, let’s take it one step further.
Often, the biggest barrier to progress isn’t the lack of a system—it’s the unnecessary friction baked into the systems we already use. Enter my proposed “stop-resolution” or “friction-removal-resolution.” Rolls right off the tongue.
Simply, instead of adding more to your plate, what if this New Year’s resolution was about removing? Removing friction, outdated processes, or habits that slow you down could make your current systems more effective and sustainable.
In Your Workflow: Stop micromanaging every step of a project. Delegate more effectively and empower your team. Remove or add one piece of technology (or subscription service) from your stack.
In Your Personal Life: Remove distractions during your most productive hours (e.g., notifications or unnecessary meetings). Cancel one social media account.
In Your Habits: Stop setting unrealistic expectations for yourself that lead to burnout. Pro tip: make “realistic” as small as possible (e.g., can be done in less than one day).
The Practical Middle Ground: Resolutions That Stick
Ok, with all of that—goals as triggers, mindsets, and systems—as a backdrop, here are a few considerations as you reflect on your Big Things F@$t intentions for 2025.
Make It Small
Big goals are exciting but overwhelming. Start with micro-resolutions that are achievable and specific. (The “big things” irony is not lost on us—read the book, we’ve got you covered!)
Example: Instead of “Get healthy,” commit to drinking an extra glass of water daily.
Tie Goals to Systems
Every resolution should have a system to support it. Think about the repeatable actions and habits that will drive progress.
Maintain the momentum of the flywheel more often than not.
Remove Friction
Identify one behavior, habit, or process you could stop to make your system more efficient.
A simple “stop-resolution” can clear the path for measurable improvement.
Build in Accountability
Share your resolution with a trusted partner or team. According to the American Society of Training and Development, people are 65% more likely to achieve a goal when they share it with someone, and 95% more likely when they have regular accountability check-ins.
Resist the temptation to negotiate against your envisioned future self. Any change introduces bargaining (your mind can be a trickster), resist that temptation to bargain against your future. I.e., what would need to be true to make your small change non-negotiable?
Reflect and Adapt
Regularly check in with yourself. What’s working? What’s not? Growth comes from iterating your approach.
Pro tip: consider using Big Things Fast’s Incremental Value Plan to map and track your progress.
Final Thought
Whether you’re setting resolutions or building systems, the real key to sustainable growth is your mindset:
What if, instead of seeing goals as all-or-nothing propositions, we viewed them as starting points for experimentation and learning?
What if this year wasn’t about starting something new, but about stopping something unnecessary?
Remember, the new year isn’t magic—but it is a moment. And moments, paired with the right mindset and systems, can lead to real transformation.
Simple, not easy.
