How To Make New Year’s Resolutions When You’re Feeling Pessimistic

As 2026 begins, the vibes of New Year's resolutions seem “off.” Expensive living costs and general anxieties for the near future threaten to change the nature of the goals people set. In the past, a typical New Year’s resolution would have been: “Work my way to my dream job by the end of the year,” while now the goal for many is to get any job at all.

While concerns for the future can make resolutions feel futile, it’s important not to give in to pessimism. Read below for tips on how to make the most of your New Year’s resolutions this year.

Tip 1: Validate Your Feelings

It’s okay to affirm that there are factors outside your control. Make space for that disappointment. Then give yourself grace so you can keep moving forward.

Tip 2: Focus on the Good

Take back control of your life and put your efforts towards creating the good you want to see in the world. Instead of materialistic or self-serving goals, set goals that foster more positivity in the lives of yourself and others. You can find suggestions on TikTok.

Tip 3: Take Things One Step at a Time

One of the reasons resolutions fail is that people try to make too much change too fast. Set yourself up for success by being realistic. Break your resolutions into smaller parts that you can accomplish one at a time. For instance, breaking up your goals by month can help you feel gratified throughout the year.

Take it slow, stay the course, and check yourself for burnout—good things came out of 2025, big or small, and the same can happen in 2026.