Conquering New Year's Resolutions: My Vision Board Journey and Goal-Setting Strategies

Ah, the New Year! It's that special time filled with excitement and a fresh start. We may begin to set goals and resolutions with the hope that this year will be different. We plan on how we will improve ourselves, yet maintaining this determination can often feel like an uphill battle. If you’re like me, you might find it tough to stick to those resolutions.

In this post, we will explore the real struggles surrounding New Year’s resolutions and share practical strategies to help you stay on track. I’ll also share my journey with a vision board, which serves as a daily reminder of my aspirations: receiving my independent counseling license, starting my doctorate program, and expanding my therapy private practice in Texas.

The Reality of New Year’s Resolutions

We have all experienced it: the first week of January starts off great! We join the gym, commit to healthier eating habits, and strategize how we will achieve our goals. However, by the time February rolls around, our initial excitement often fades.

Research shows that around 80% of resolutions fail by mid-February (Van Bravel, 2022)! A significant reason for this is that many of us set ambitious goals without a solid plan in place. We overestimate our willpower, which can lead to frustration and ultimately abandoning our resolutions. Here are a few tips that may help you be able to maintain your goals for the 2025 year and onward.

Goal-Setting Strategies

Create a Vision Board

One effective tool that has kept me focused on my resolutions this year is creating a vision board. This vibrant collage blends my goals, dreams, and aspirations into one visual guide, reminding me daily what I am working towards.

How to Make One:

1. Gather Materials: Start with a board—corkboard, poster board, or even a digital alternative—and gather magazines, scissors, glue, and markers. You can make it as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Make it yours and have fun with it!

2. Set Your Goals: Before you start cutting out images, reflect on your goals. For instance, I wanted to primarily focus on my health and career goals this year.

   
   

3. Cut and Paste: Locate images, words, or quotes that resonate with you. On my board, I included pictures of graduation caps, representing my doctorate ambitions, along with images of serene spaces that symbolize my growing therapy practice.

   
   

4. Display It: Keep your vision board in a prominent spot—like beside my desk—where it serves as a daily motivator. Research indicates that visual reminders can boost your motivation by up to 40% (Plante et al., 2013) .

   
   

Dream It, Plan It. Achieve It: Example of Vision Board

Accountability is Key

Accountability is vital to successfully sticking to our resolutions. It turns out that sharing our goals significantly boosts our chances of achieving them. Here are a few ways to build accountability into your journey:

1. Find an Accountability Partner: Share your goals with a trusted friend or family member who can check in on your progress. Having someone to encourage you can be a game-changer. My husband is my personal accountability partner. When one of us doesn't want to go to the gym, we offer encouragement and remind ourselves of our established goals.

   
   

2. Set Regular Check-Ins: Schedule weekly catch-ups to discuss your progress, celebrate achievements, and revise your goals as needed. For example, I meet weekly with a friend where we discuss our personal and professional growth.

   
   

3. Join a Group: Joining a supportive community, whether it's a fitness group or a book club, can keep you inspired. Just knowing others share similar goals offers a powerful motivator.

   
   

Time Management: Make Room for Your Goals

Many struggle to maintain their resolutions due to poor time management. With busy lives, it’s all too easy to push our goals aside. Here are some strategies that have worked for me:

1. Prioritize Your Goals: Break your goals into smaller, actionable tasks. For instance, getting my doctorate consists of a series of steps—like completing application forms or studying for entrance exams—that can feel more achievable.

   
   

2. Create a Schedule: Block specific times each week for resolution-focused activities, treating them like important appointments you cannot miss. I’ve found that dedicating three hours each weekend to study makes a tremendous difference in my progress.

   
   

3. Use Tools: Don’t overlook digital tools such as planners and reminders to keep your goals front and center. Personally, I rely on a physical and digital calendar that alerts me for study sessions and therapy planning.

   
   

Align Goals with Your Values

Before jumping into setting goals, reflect on your core values. When your goals align with your values, they become intrinsically rewarding, making it much easier to stay committed.

I realized that what truly matters to me is helping others through therapy, continuous learning, and personal development. Instead of merely wanting to become licensed or earn my doctorate, I focused on how these achievements would fulfill my passion for making a difference.

Start Therapy: A Goal Worth Considering

As we reflect on our New Year’s resolutions, it’s essential to understand that sometimes personal growth requires professional guidance. Starting therapy can be an invaluable goal if you seek to better understand yourself or tackle hurdles hindering your success.

Therapy is a path of self-discovery and can help achieve your goals. It helps unravel complex emotions and provides techniques to manage stress and enhance overall well-being. Investing in personal development is always a smart choice, and therapy can empower you in ways you may not expect. If you or somebody you know is thinking of beginning therapy in Texas, click the link below and we can get connected!

Click Me

Starting Strong in the New Year

Sticking to New Year's resolutions can be daunting, but with the right mindset, tools, and support, it can be a fulfilling journey. By creating a vision board, fostering accountability, managing your time effectively, and aligning your goals with your values, you pave the way for success.

Remember, whether through personal ambitions or therapy, every step toward self-improvement is worthwhile. Let’s stay focused, motivated, and ready to turn our dreams into reality!

What’s holding you back? Let’s commit to making this year the one where we achieve our goals!

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." -Proverbs 16:3

I hope you enjoyed this post and found these goal-setting strategies to be helpful. Free free to comment any ideas on what you would like to see next!

Until next time,

Brianna Winn, LPC-A

Supervised by Samara Orr, LPC-S

Winn Counseling

References:

• Plante, T., Morisako, A., Folk, J., Kay, E., Read, C., Plante, T., Kay, A., Dunn, E., Perez, A., & Willemsen, amp; (2013). Scholar Commons The effect of visual suggestion on exercise motivation and outcomes Recommended Citation. https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1106&context=psych

• Van Bravel, J. (2022 12). How Not to Fail at Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions. Time. https://time.com/6243642/how-to-keep-new-years-resolutions-2/