Happy New Year, and Goals That Actually Stick

 

Happy New Year, lovely lot, I hope you've had a cosy few weeks, eaten something yummy and comforting, and found at least one missing tin of biscuits you forgot you bought. Now that we're all blinking at the calendar like it's just shouted surprise, I wanted to have a little chat about goals for the year ahead, not resolutions, the sort that turn up loudly on 1 January then vanish by the time the Christmas tree comes down.

Why I'm skipping resolutions this year

A resolution often sounds like a rule, it's usually huge, it's usually all or nothing, and it's usually built on guilt. You know the ones, I'll never eat pudding again, I'll keep the house perfect at all times, I'll do everything from scratch every day. Then real life wanders in with muddy shoes, school letters, a broken zipper, and a week where everyone wants something at once. Goals are different, goals can be gentle, practical, and built around the life you actually live.

A goal is a direction, not a punishment

I like to think of a goal as a little signpost, not a wagging finger. It says, Let's head this way when we can. Not, if you don't do this perfectly, you've failed. If you're a homemaker, you already set goals all the time without calling them that. You plan meals, you keep an eye on the budget, you notice what needs fixing, you try a new cleaning routine, and you make the house feel like home. That's not failing, that's life management.

How to set goals that won't fall through by February

Here are a few ways to make goals feel doable, even when the kettle's boiled over and the dog's eaten a sock.

1. Start with what you want more of

Instead of stop doing this, try I want more of that. More calm mornings, more money left at the end of the week, more time for reading, more simple dinners, more tidy surfaces. Write down three things you'd love to have more of at home.

2. Pick one small habit, not a massive makeover

A small habit is the sort of thing you can do even on a busy day. For example:

• Put the washing on first thing, before you sit down

• Do a ten-minute tidy before tea

• Plan three easy dinners on Sunday

• Wipe the bathroom sink every other day

• Make a hot drink, sit down, and read two pages of a book. Small is not silly, small is how things stick.

3. Make it specific enough to do, but flexible enough to live with

I'll get organised is lovely, but what does it look like on a Tuesday? Try something like:

• I'll clear one drawer a week

• I'll do a quick budget check every Friday

• I'll batch cook one meal a month . If you miss a week, you haven't failed, you've just missed a week.

4. Choose a goal that fits your season of life

If you've got little ones, a goal like deep cleaning the whole house every weekend is a recipe for tears. If you're caring for someone, working, juggling school runs, or just plain tired, your goals need to match your energy. A good goal should feel like a helpful nudge, not a heavy backpack.

5. Build in a minimum version for hard days

This is my favourite trick. If your goal is to make a meal plan every week, the minimum version might be write down three dinners. If your goal is declutter the kitchen, the minimum version might be clear the worktop by the kettle. Hard days still count.

A few gentle goal ideas for homemakers

If you want some inspiration, here are a few that suit real homes with real people in them.

• Home goal: One small declutter a week, one drawer, one shelf, one cupboard

• Money goal: A weekly money minute, check the bank, check the budget, done

• Food goal: Keep a list of five quick dinners you can do without thinking

• Cleaning goal: Pick one anchor habit, like making the bed or wiping the sink

• Your goal: Ten minutes a day for something that's just yours, reading, knitting, a walk, a podcast, a bath

My little wish for you this year

I hope this year feels kinder, calmer, and a bit more doable. If you set goals, let them be the sort that support you, not the sort that scold you. And if you fancy it, tell me one small goal you're trying this year. I love hearing what other homes are doing, it always gives me a good nudge, too. 

See you in the next blog!