Top Achievable New Year’s Resolutions You’ll Actually Keep
With the big holidays behind us, now is the time for a fresh start. Whether you want to reboot your mental or physical health, January is the best time to set healthy goals for the new year. Yes, new year resolutions have a bad rap, but that’s because people often have big, lofty dreams they want to tackle all at once. It’s a matter of setting the right new year resolutions.
The key to setting smart goals is making them aspirational and attainable. You want challenges that require work, but not so much work that they’re not realistic. Choosing a new year resolution that’s too big or one that requires a large overhaul of your daily routine will only set you up for frustration and failure
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While you’re at it, it’s also smart to pick a goal that can be broken down into smaller, more manageable steps. When you can focus on one step at a time, the overarching task is less daunting and you’ll feel little bursts of accomplishment as you hit milestones throughout the year.
The very first thing for you to do, though, is think about what area of your health you want to focus on. Many people choose goals that boost their physical health (like resetting your sleep schedule) while others would rather improve their mood by reorganizing their home or commiting to random acts of kindness. Take a look at the new year resolution ideas below and pick something that will make you feel better—and is totally doable for your lifestyle.
1. Buy yourself flowers
Yes, they smell and look great, but they’re also surprisingly good for your mental health. In fact, a new study found that almost everyone associates fresh flowers with positive feelings like relaxed, happy, and appreciated. It’s possible that investing in a new bouquet every week could be just the mood boost that you—and any guest you invite over—need.
2.Cut back on ultra-processed foods.
We’re talking about things like chips, candy, soda, fried chicken, premade dips, packaged pastries—anything that is industrially made and contains multiple, unnatural additives. Unfortunately, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are linked to a variety of health problems including colorectal cancer. You don’t have to ditch them completely, but every little bit you give up helps. Common red flags to look for include high fructose corn syrup, hydrolyzed proteins, artificial flavors, colors, and enhancers, and higher levels of salt, sugar, oil or saturated fats.
3.Give your kitchen a refresh
If you can hardly see your counters through all the papers, Post-its, and not-yet-put-away groceries, you may pay for that chaos later when it comes to meals. Take 20 minutes today to whisk it all where it belongs, and it can help you eat more mindfully in days to come. Then, set aside a weekend afternoon to sift through your pantry, freezer, and refrigerator. Remove things that are expired or don’t support your nutrition goals and stock up on healthy foods that do.
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4.Schedule annual health screenings.
Open your calendar app (or planner!) and make your appointments for the year in one sitting. Not only will you get the anxiety-inducing nuisance over with, but you’re also more likely to get appointment times that work well for your schedule. Start with your yearly wellness visit with your primary care provider, and ask which screenings (such as mammogram and colonoscopy) you’re due for. Slot those in, then move on to the dentist’s office and your ophthalmologist, too.
5.Eat citrus fruit every day.
First, citrus fruit can help keep skin looking healthy thanks to vitamin C, which aids in collagen production. In fact, an American Journal of Clinical Nutrition study found that people who ate foods high in C had fewer wrinkles and less age-related dry skin than those who didn’t. Other research suggests eating citrus fruit every day could help lower your risk of depression. Try clementine sections sprinkled with pistachios or sweet grapefruit dipped in Greek yogurt for a snack. Just steer clear of grapefruit if you take certain medications.
6.Start cold plunging
Some people say cold therapy helps boost their mood while others turn to it for relief from menstrual and perimenopausal symptoms like anxiety and hot flashes. A 2025 review out of the University of South Australia found it can assist with inflammation, stress, immunity, and sleep quality as well as boost your quality of life. If an ice bath isn’t feasible for you, try ending your hot showers with a burst of ice-cold water.
7.Volunteer regularly
Yes, volunteering benefits others, but it also can be beneficial for your own health. In fact, research shows that people who volunteer live longer and tend to be happier and more engaged. Consider ways that you can give back to your community. Maybe it would bring you joy to fill in at a soup kitchen or animal shelter, or share a skill of yours (say, embroidery or computer programming) by teaching a class at a library.
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8.Buy a plant
Swing by the garden center this weekend and grab a bit of greenery that catches your eye. Just the presence of indoor plants can lower human stress levels, research shows, and one study found that actively caring for plants calmed the autonomic nervous system and lowered blood pressure. Plus, when people work near plants, they report greater concentration, satisfaction, and perceived air quality—an added bonus if you place it in a home office.
9.Schedule more cultural outings
To help ward off the blues, consider getting tickets to more museums, concerts, and plays this year. Research suggests that people who make regular trips to these types of attractions have a lower risk of developing depression than those who skip them. Plus, you never know what you’ll learn from a new activity.
10.Treat yourself to exercise gear you love.
Purchase workout clothes that flatter your body: Studies show that what we wear affects the way we feel, which impacts our ability to get stuff done, says Hajo Adam, Ph.D., a professor at Rice University. It’s a phenomenon known as “enclothed cognition,” and it’s as true in Zumba as it is at work. If you’re not sure what you might like, experts in the Good Housekeeping Textiles Lab are fans of the Lululemon Align Pant II, which are lightweight with a high-rise fit.
11.Quit multitasking.
Doing multiple things at once doesn’t make you more efficient—it just stresses you out, says mindfulness expert Pedram Shojai, the author of Focus: Bringing Time, Energy, and Money Into Flow.”If your focus is fragmented, you’ll likely find yourself getting anxious as new items come up when old ones are still incomplete,” he says. Instead, he suggests, organize your activities into chunks of time, such as kid time and cooking time, and then “commit to being focused in those allotted minutes and see what happens.”
12.Take a bath before going to bed.
If you often have trouble nodding off, there’s a research-backed idea that could help: Relax in a hot bath! In one study, taking a bath one to two hours before going to bed helped people fall asleep about 10 minutes earlier and have a better quality snooze.
13.Make your bed every morning.
Yes, we’re serious—try checking this off your to-do list every single day. Mastering the art of making your bed will transform your space, kickstart a productive morning routine, and help you feel productive before you even leave the house. Plus, who doesn’t love nestling into a nicely made bed at the end of the day?
14.Drink more water.
You know you need to hydrate every day, but it’s especially important when you get only six hours of sleep (or less!). You’re more likely to be dehydrated the day after a disrupted night of sleep because a hormone that regulates your body’s water conservation is released during later stages of sleep. So down some extra water on those days if you can.
15.Embrace aromatherapy.
Because smell is associated with the parts of the brain that process emotion and store memories, certain aromas can affect mood, says olfactory expert Rachel Herz, Ph.D., author of The Scent of Desire. For instance, vanilla could make you feel more relaxed or joyful (mmm, baking) while peppermint may boost energy and lavender might help you fall asleep.
16.Be kinder to yourself.
Of course it’s always good to spread kindness to others, but there are also health benefits to being more kind to yourself. In fact, one study found that practicing self-compassion slowed people’s heart rate and sweating, two symptoms our bodies produce when we are under chronic stress.
17.Get more steps.
If you don’t have the bandwidth for a brand-new fitness routine, doing more hikes, walking errands, or even simple strolls around the neighborhood is essential. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults spend as much time moving each day as possible—and walking counts! In fact, research has found that walking more can help lower your risk of dementia.
18.Spend more time with family.
It sounds cheesy, but if you have healthy family relationships, do everything you can to maintain them. Life is unpredictable, but family members can help you get through tough times and celebrate the great times. This year, try to carve out one-on-one time with loved ones (close friends can be family too!), whether it’s via monthly family dinners or weekly FaceTimes.
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19.Go on adventures without a set destination.
Make this your year of spontaneous road trips. If you’re able to get out alone, a solo trip in the car is a great way to recharge. If you’ve got a family in tow, an unplanned adventure could result in an array of new fun memories. Either way, hitting the road without a destination in mind is a good practice in relinquishing control. Bonus points if you give up social media while you’re out and about.
20.Try out a new hairdo.
If there’s a new style you’ve been thinking about for a while, now’s the time to give it a shot. A makeover is just as refreshing as turning over a new leaf internally. Taking off a few inches can make you feel (literally and figuratively) so much lighter in the new year. Even a simple new style or hair color could brighten your days and put pep back into your step in 2026.
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