Starting Small After Setting 73 Resolutions

Starting Small After Setting 73 Resolutions

Why tiny habits, imperfect routines, and honest check‑ins matter more than big resolutions.

Here we are, eight days into the new year, and I’ve already checked off one item from my very long list of resolutions, all seventy‑three of them. Yes, I went big. I started this year trying to overhaul my entire life at once, and these past few days have tested that ambition in ways I didn’t expect.

When the overwhelm started creeping in, I did the only thing that felt grounding: I wrote and posted my story. And thanks to the comments section, I had a moment of clarity. I didn’t need to accomplish everything at once. I needed a plan for January, one that met some of my expectations, not all of them. I needed a starting point that would actually move me forward instead of freezing me in place.

So I reviewed my week. I wasn’t idle. I’ve been drinking more water, choosing better foods, and slowly easing myself into a routine. But the most important realization was this: most of my “self‑care” was actually doom‑scrolling or asking AI to help me phrase work emails. Yes, I’m a fun girl.

Those moments I call a pause or a breather? They need to be more intentional. And honestly, that’s okay because right now, I’m exactly where I need to be.

I’m figuring out the systems that will help me reach my goals, and I’m grateful to share the process here with all of you. Instead of focusing only on my Day 8 revelations, I want to acknowledge something bigger: setbacks happen, it gets hard, and we can still get through it. Starting small isn’t a failure. It’s the foundation.

I’m not the only one figuring this out in real time. What tiny wins or unexpected setbacks have shaped your start to the year? Drop them in the comments, someone else might need to hear your story.