The new year can feel like a fresh start — but it can also feel like pressure to change your entire life overnight in order to get anything accomplished.
New Year’s resolutions have never worked for me. Not because they’re bad, but because they don’t fit how my brain or my life actually works… especially in seasons where so much is unknown. Between ADHD and the fact that we’re moving mid-year due to a military PCS, there are too many unknowns for rigid, year-long plans to feel realistic.
Why New Year’s Resolutions Have Never Worked for Me
I have ADHD, and my priorities and goals tend to shift throughout the year. I can’t realistically say things like, “I’m cutting out all sugar,” or “I’ll work out five days a week every week this year.” That kind of rigidity just doesn’t work for me.
When I’ve tried traditional resolutions in the past, I’ve often set myself up for frustration. It’s not a lack of discipline — it’s about compatibility. My brain doesn’t thrive on all-or-nothing rules, and once I accepted that, things got easier.
The Shift: Why I Set Short-Term Goals Instead
Instead, I tend to set goals when they actually make sense.
Sometimes that’s in the middle of a month. Sometimes it’s on a random Tuesday.
Recently, I set a goal to focus more intentionally on blogging and monetization. That’s what I’m working on right now. Everything I want to communicate through my business, I’m sharing through blog posts first, and then repurposing into other social media content. That shift is also why I’m currently moving my website from Shopify to WordPress.
Another goal I’ve been focusing on is daily movement. As a graphic designer and blogger, I’m at my computer far more than I ever was as a teacher. While I’d love to eventually have a walking pad and standing desk, for now I’m being intentional about adding movement throughout my day.
I take walking breaks for fresh air, sunlight, and to give my eyes a break from my laptop — and it’s been beneficial for both my mental and physical health.
What This Actually Looks Like Day to Day
Intention is my word for the new year.
With inattentive ADHD, I can sometimes drift through my days without realizing where my time or energy went. Lately, I’ve been making a conscious effort to be more intentional — with my time, my movement, and my actions.
I want my life to align with my values without feeling forced, restrictive, or like I’m trying to become someone I’m not.
A System That Helped Me Create Better Daily Flow
A couple months ago, I found @upgradingkatie on Instagram. She was talking about using ChatGPT to bring more structure into her life because she wanted to feel less overwhelmed — and I immediately felt seen.
I had already been using ChatGPT to help turn my business ideas into reality, but my days still felt disconnected. There was no real flow, and it often felt like I was starting over every single day.
After following Katie’s prompts, I gave ChatGPT an honest picture of my goals, struggles, energy levels, and what my life actually looks like. It helped create a blueprint for my year, and now, through weekly check-ins, it gives me realistic daily to-do lists that help me work toward my long-term goals.
That alone has removed so much guesswork — and a lot of the aimlessness that can come with inattentive ADHD.
I also have the hyperfocus-until-it’s-done flavor of ADHD, so I even ask ChatGPT to suggest time frames for tasks. Without that structure, I could easily spend an entire day designing in Canva or Procreate or reorganizing a closet — while completely ignoring the dishwasher and letting dishes pile up in the sink.
A Reality Check: This Isn’t About Perfection
Has this turned me into a completely new person without ADHD? No. Do I sometimes ignore the to-do list entirely for a day? Absolutely.
But is this a system that helps me focus my time and energy where it matters most? Yes.
Even on days where nothing goes according to plan, I’m still moving forward. I’m no longer stuck in an all-or-nothing mindset.
With insulin-resistant PCOS, endometriosis, and inattentive ADHD, there are days when my energy is nonexistent and my body feels heavy and defeated. And there are also high-energy days where I get a ton done.
Both kinds of days are part of my life — and this system allows room for both.
What Works for Me (And Might Work for You Too)
This is simply what works for me.
If New Year’s resolutions work for you, that’s genuinely great — keep using what supports you. For me, setting goals when they hit on a random Thursday is what actually leads to progress.
And if that’s how you set goals too? We’ll probably get along just fine.
What would it look like to try something that fits you better?