Forget goals: For 2025, set – and keep – New Year's intentions

As we usher in a new year, we’re bombarded with familiar resolutions: lose weight, exercise more, eat healthier, read more books, spend more time with family. The list goes on. 

Yet it’s estimated a staggering 88% of people abandon their New Year’s resolutions within the first two weeks of January. The reason? Experts cite a number of factors, but chief among them are goals that aren’t concrete, are based on negative self-judgment, are too long-term, or lack the agility needed to adapt to unexpected obstacles. In short, resolutions tend to be unrealistic, rigid and disconnected from the nuances of everyday life.

This year, instead of succumbing to the tradition of setting lofty resolutions you may not keep, we propose something different: set intentions. The real power of intention-setting lies in its adaptability. It’s not about achieving a specific goal by a fixed date but about aligning your actions and mindset with a larger vision and with your values. By focusing on the process and celebrating small wins, you can maintain momentum and make necessary adjustments along the way.