Reviving the Resolution: Why I’m Going Back to What Worked (Until It Didn’t)

It's New Year's Day. Everyone is making promises about new habits, routines, and versions of themselves that they swear they'll become by February.

Most of these resolutions won't last. We all know this. The gym gets crowded, then quiet again. Journals are filled for a week, then left to gather dust. Grand plans dissolve into guilt and the thought of "maybe next year."

Back in 2019, I tried something different. I wrote about it here and here. The idea was simple: instead of trying to become someone new, focus on doing more of what you're already doing. Don't build from scratch; build on what's already working. And it worked, until it didn't.

By April 2019, everything had fallen apart. Not because the approach was flawed, but because I couldn't get out of my own way.

This isn't a "new year, new me" post. This is a "let me try that again, but smarter this time" post.

What I Did Differently (And Why It Made Sense)

The traditional resolution model often requires you to become someone you're not. It encourages lofty goals like losing 50 pounds, reading 52 books, waking up at 5 AM every day, learning a new language, and starting a business—all at once and all perfectly.

However, that's not how people typically function.

In 2019, I decided to change my approach. Instead of starting from scratch, I focused on what I was already doing well and asked myself: What if I did more of that? If I was already writing occasionally, what if I increased that to twice a week? If I was keeping in touch with a few people, what if I reached out to a few more?

The beauty of this approach was that I wasn't beginning at zero; I was amplifying something that already had momentum. I already knew I could do it because I was doing it. I just needed to do it more. This strategy felt sustainable and realistic, and for a while, it was working.

What Happened: The Part Where I Failed

By April, it was over.

I didn't fail because the approach was flawed. I failed because I was too hard on myself.

I had four goals I wanted to focus on: writing more, connecting with people more, getting more sleep, and taking more photos. By April, I was batting .250, which means only one out of four was working.

On the positive side, I stayed in touch with my dad more than I had in years, and I consistently reached out to friends and family. That was a win. However, I couldn't see it as enough because I fixated on the three areas where I struggled. Writing actually decreased instead of increasing. My sleep worsened rather than improved. Photography completely fell off, and I even gave away my camera.

All or nothing. That was my problem.

Instead of celebrating the one area that was working, I focused on what I was failing at. One out of four felt like total failure, even though one out of four was better than zero out of four. Because I couldn't do it perfectly, it felt like I wasn't doing it at all.

Some wins are better than no wins. But I couldn't recognize that at the time. I was in a headspace where anything less than perfect felt like failure. When you measure yourself that way, you will always lose.

Why I Still Believe in It

Here's the thing: the method wasn't the problem. It was my mindset.

Traditional resolutions still don't work. They require you to become someone you're not, do things you've never done, and maintain it all indefinitely. That's a setup for failure.

The approach I used in 2019 succeeded because it started with who I already was. It respected my life, my habits, and my reality. It didn't demand that I transform overnight. It simply encouraged me to keep going, a little more than before.

The real problem was how I measured success. I only counted the perfect weeks and overlooked the progress I was making, even when it was significant. If I had given myself credit for doing more, even if it wasn't as much as I had planned, the outcome might have been different. If I had celebrated partial wins instead of dismissing them, perhaps I wouldn't have given up at all.

That's what I'm doing differently this time.

What I'm Doing Differently in 2026

The framework remains unchanged, but the mindset must evolve.

I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel. The core approach from 2019 is still valid. The focus should be on doing more of what is already working rather than developing new habits from scratch. That aspect does not need to change.

What needs to shift are my methods for measuring success, my responses to setbacks, and the way I treat myself when things don't go perfectly. This is where the real work lies. Here's the breakdown.

Identify What's Already Working

I'm naming what's already working. What am I doing now that I want to do more of?

It might be the consistent blogging I've been doing, the quality time I spend with my son, or the content I create, even if it's not as much as I'd like. It could also be the books I'm reading or the way I'm managing my finances. Regardless of what it is, it simply needs to be something I'm already engaged in.

Get Specific

I'm being specific. Instead of saying "create more content," I mean "keep up the biweekly blog posts and add one video or livestream when I can." Instead of "spend more time with my son," I want to "be more intentional about our activities when we're together."

Vague goals lead to vague results, while specific actions lead to measurable progress.

Shift the Mindset

This is the part I got wrong in 2019, and it's the part I'm working on fixing now.

The framework was solid, and the execution was consistent, at least for a while. However, my mindset was toxic. I viewed every slip as a failure and measured success in absolutes. I couldn't celebrate what I was achieving because I focused too much on what I wasn't accomplishing.

That mindset is what ultimately derailed me, not the approach or life's distractions. My inability to acknowledge and appreciate my progress, even if it wasn't perfect, was the actual hindrance. Here's what's different this time.

Celebrate Partial Wins

If I do more of something even once, that counts. It doesn't have to happen every day or every week. It just needs to be more than what I did before.

This is the hardest shift for me. I'm used to measuring success by consistency, streaks, and perfection. However, that mindset was what hindered my progress the first time. If I post multiple blogs in one week or two consecutive weeks when I usually post biweekly, that's a win. If I have three intentional conversations with my son when I typically have two, that's progress. It doesn't matter if I can't maintain that level perfectly. What matters is that I achieved it at all.

Partial wins add up. They compound over time and keep you engaged instead of sidelining yourself because you can't play perfectly.

Progress Over Perfection

Some wins are better than none. That's the mantra I'm embracing right now.

If I publish two blog posts in one month and only one the next, I'm still making progress compared to when I wasn't blogging at all. If I create one piece of content when my goal was three, that's still one more than zero. It still counts, and it still matters.

Perfection isn't the goal. Progress is. Any forward movement, even if it's slow or inconsistent, still counts as progress. I'm not competing with anyone else's timeline or output. I'm just focused on doing more than I was before. That's enough for me.

Adjust Without Abandoning

If something stops working, I won't scrap the entire system. I'll adjust that one piece.

I realized where I went wrong in 2019. When something didn't go according to plan, I would throw out the whole system. One missed week turned into two, then three, and before I knew it, I was saying, "I guess I'm just not doing this anymore."

Not this time. If blogging biweekly becomes overwhelming, I'll switch to monthly. If creating video content feels too stressful, I'll focus on writing and return to video later. If one approach no longer fits my life, I'll modify it. The system doesn't have to be perfect to be valuable. It just needs to keep me moving forward.

Check In Regularly

I refuse to wait until everything falls apart to realize something is wrong. Instead, I'll check in monthly or quarterly to assess what is working and what isn't.

Minor adjustments are far more effective than total overhauls. If I notice I'm slipping in February, I can make corrections right away instead of waiting until April when everything has collapsed. These check-ins are not about judgment; they are about honesty. What's working? What isn't? What needs to change?

I build reflection into my process rather than waiting for failure to prompt it. That's the key difference.

Keep It Simple

I'm still figuring out the specifics here. I don't want this to turn into a performance review, complete with spreadsheets and scorecards that make me feel like I'm failing when I'm not.

What I do know is this: I need something simple. Perhaps a monthly reflection where I write down what I've accomplished, even if it wasn't perfect. Maybe I could use a note on my phone to track small wins, so I can actually see the progress I'm making. Alternatively, it might help to have a conversation with someone I trust, who can remind me that progress isn't linear and that I'm doing better than I think.

I don't need a complex system. I need something that helps me recognize the wins I tend to overlook and keeps me from giving up when things aren't perfect. I don't have all the answers yet, but I know the framework works, and I understand that a mindset shift matters. That's enough to get started.

The Lesson: Some Wins Are Better Than No Wins

In 2019, I was striving for perfection, but I realized that's not realistic. Progress is not a straight line. Some months, you'll excel, while other months, you might barely make any progress. Both experiences are essential.

The goal isn't to avoid mistakes altogether. It's about showing up consistently, even when things don't go as planned. If you do something more often than before, even if it's less than you intended, that still counts as progress. That still matters. I struggled in 2019 because I didn't recognize this. I won't make that mistake again.

Why This Matters (For You Too)

Many people struggle with their resolutions because they try to force change instead of building on what already exists. They start from scratch, attempting to become someone they're not, and expect everything to click overnight. Even effective methods can fail if you adopt an all-or-nothing mindset. While the approach you take is important, how you measure your progress is even more crucial.

This perspective acknowledges your current situation while still encouraging you to move forward. It's essential to recognize your progress as well. Give yourself credit for the steps you take, even if they're not perfect. You're not starting over; you're starting again, armed with more wisdom this time.

Let's Start There

I attempted to make changes in 2019, but they didn't stick. But I learned something, my approach wasn't the problem. My expectations were. In 2026, my focus isn't on becoming a different person or achieving perfection. Instead, it's about being more intentional with who I already am and recognizing the progress I make.

If traditional resolutions haven't worked for you, consider this method. Reflect on what you're already doing. Choose one thing you want to do more of this year. When you accomplish it, celebrate, even if it's not perfect. Remember, some wins are better than none. Let's start there.

What is something you're already doing that you want to focus on more this year? I'd love to hear about it.