At least that’s our hope, right? But don’t just wish for your life to change over the next 12 months. Let’s create a plan to MAKE it happen.
If you’re struggling with personal growth and you need a reset, now is the best time to set new goals. In this article, we’ll show you how to make new year’s resolutions that won’t fade by February — and will help you flourish long afterward.
You got this!
Start a new hobby
Just don’t make your growth a grind.
If you really want a resolution to stick, you must pursue something you’re passionate about. Are you big on baking? Does your heart race when thinking about running? Do you dream of dancing?
Just. Do. It.
Makes perfect sense, right? If you enjoy an activity, you’ll want to engage again and again. Even better, find a friend to join you — or make a new pal — and you’ll double your pleasure.
Author James Clear, who wrote the runaway best-seller “Atomic Habits,” offers another suggestion: If your hobbies aren’t enjoyable initially, MAKE them fun.
“Nearly any habit can be made more fun than it is currently,” Clear writes. “Ask yourself, ‘What would it look like if this was fun? What would it look like if meditation or exercise or writing — or whatever — was fun? Find the most enjoyable version of each habit you do.”
Schedule a ‘Reset Day’
It’s a must to make over your mental health.
Need a break from the stress and hustle of the classroom or office? We all do. And it’s vital we make these days part of our regular routine.
You can use this time to deep clean your home, hang out with friends, journal about your future, go for a long walk, or read a good book. The key is to intentionally separate yourself from the work that consumes most of your time, whether that’s studying or a job.
“In general, we need practices that help us slow down and break out of the mad rush through life,” writes John Mark Comer, author of “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry.”
“Love, joy, and peace are incompatible with hurry.”
Regardless of how you “Reset,” be sure to include these three R’s as part of your day:
- Reflect
- Renew
- Restore
In other words, simply enjoy this time of well-being, even if all doesn’t go as planned. “Start where you are,” Comer adds. “Not where you feel you should be.”
Take a College Course
Enhance your knowledge and marketability.
Perhaps you’ve heard this phrase: Feeding our minds is as necessary as food to the body.
Or maybe this one: You can never be overdressed or overeducated.
We can’t speak for your wardrobe, but we do know that learning fuels our personal growth in so many different ways. So as a new year begins, you might consider taking an online course with Portage Learning. The benefits of studying with us are many. Our courses are:
- Asynchronous, so you can register today and start tomorrow.
- Fully online, so you can learn from anywhere, at any time.
- Among the most academically rigorous in the online learning space, thanks to partnerships with Geneva College and Bushnell University.
- Affordable. Just $223 per credit, with no additional fees for textbooks or other materials.
A Portage Learning course might be exactly what you need to lock in for success. Just ask Jon Tukala of Columbus, Ohio. Jon completed eight courses with us before moving on to his current nursing program.
“It was my pleasure taking courses through Portage Learning,” he says. “All of my professors were great to work with. Very kind, very prompt, very helpful. I had a great experience and I would recommend it to anyone.”
Get Moving
Exercise your way to a healthier future.
Want to improve your mood, become more focused, boost your immune system, and burn more calories? Then get off the couch and get active.
“Exercise is a crucial tool for both physical and brain health,” says Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist and professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine. He also hosts “Huberman Lab,” a podcast that attracts millions of viewers and listeners each month.
Like hobbies, you’ll find success with this particular resolution by choosing an activity you enjoy. Love nature? Go for a trail hike. Live near your workplace? Try walking when the weather’s nice.
As children, we never thought about “getting our steps in” or grinding through another workout. While the local gym is wonderful, you don’t need a membership to build a healthier body. Just a little creativity and a lot of consistency.
“The more you can engage in activities that make you feel good,” Huberman emphasizes, “the more resilient you become to stress.”
So if you’re looking for a long-term fix in 2026, the steps are clear:
- Enjoyable recreation
- Consistent restoration
- Fitness routine application
- And continuing education.
With those resolutions guiding your steps, you’re not only on your way to enjoying a physically and mentally healthy new year, but a fabulous new YOU.
And we can’t wait to see the results.
(For a deeper dive, check out our podcast on the psychology of new year’s resolutions. To learn more about our courses, you can view our complete list here.)
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