The Key to Keeping up with a New Years “Resolution”

Every year, millions of people set ambitious resolutions—to get healthier, save more money, improve relationships, or finally chase that dream. Resolutions can be a powerful way to kickstart change. But too often, they fall apart because we focus too much on the end goal and not enough on the system or process that will get us there.

The result? Frustration. Disappointment. Feeling stuck.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re making zero progress toward a goal, you’re not alone. But here’s the thing—change rarely happens overnight. Big goals are built through small, consistent actions. It’s about embracing the daily process, even when the results aren’t immediately visible.

The Power of the Process

Let’s say your resolution is to get healthier. Focusing solely on the end goal—like losing 20 pounds—can leave you feeling defeated if the scale doesn’t move fast enough. But what if, instead, you focused on the process: drinking more water every day, exercising three times a week, and prioritizing whole foods?

Now, each day becomes an opportunity to make progress, even if the results aren’t obvious yet. Those small actions compound over time. Each meal, each workout, and each good night’s sleep is a victory, regardless of what the scale says.

It’s this focus on systems over goals that helps you stay motivated long after the excitement of January 1st fades.

Consistency Beats Perfection

There’s a quote that perfectly captures the power of consistency:

“When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two.”

The stonecutter’s success isn’t about that one magical strike. It’s about the hundred small efforts that came before it.

The same applies to your resolutions. Whether your goal is to become more present as a spouse or parent, save more money, or improve your fitness, it’s not about one big action. It’s about showing up day after day, trusting the process, and knowing that every small action brings you closer to your goal.

Focus on What You Can Control

Here’s how you can shift from goal-chasing to systems-focused: 

• Set process-based resolutions. Instead of “I want to lose 20 pounds,” try “I’ll exercise 3 times a week and meal prep on Sundays.”
• Celebrate consistency, not results. Showing up is a win. Even if the results are slow, consistency builds momentum.
• Track the process. Keep a journal or checklist for your daily actions. Seeing your progress over time can be incredibly motivating.
• Be patient. Remember, progress often feels invisible until one day it isn’t—just like the stonecutter.

The beauty of this approach is that it turns every day into an opportunity for success. You’re no longer stuck waiting for some future result to feel like you’re winning. Instead, you’re building habits and systems that will serve you long after this year’s resolutions fade.

So, this year, focus on the process. Keep chipping away. And when you finally reach your goal, it won’t be because of one grand effort—it will be the result of hundreds of small, intentional actions that made all the difference. 

If one of your goals is to focus on your health and fitness this year, make chiropractic care a part of your process. With proper assessment and treatment, you can push your body with exercise and improve your performance, recover faster, and continue to progress to your end goal with each passing day.