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Intentions vs resolutions: Why New Year intentions are the new resolutions in 2025
15th January 2025
The New Year is upon us and it’s that time where you’ve probably been thinking about resolutions, goals and what you want to achieve in 2025. But did you know that on average, only 9-12% of us keep our resolutions? So, how do we change this cycle?
We’ve caught up with Warner Hotels’ wellness partner, Carlie Barlow, to get some expert tips for putting your best foot forward this New Year.
Set intentions, not resolutions
In contrast to resolutions, which tend to make you focus on negative habits, setting intentions is a more mindful goal setting practice that provides accountability and allows you to work towards a goal and live with purpose.
Carlie says: “Unlike resolutions, intentions give you more freedom to achieve what you desire — they encourage growth, not perfection. An example could be ‘I intend to prioritise my mental health this year’. Based on this intention, a resolution will sound like ‘I will meditate for 5 minutes each day’.”
10 New Year intention ideas to inspire you
1. I intend to prioritise my mental well-being by embracing self-compassion and self-care.
2. I intend to cultivate gratitude daily, focusing on the positive aspects of my life.
3. I intend to create healthy boundaries that protect my energy and peace of mind.
4. I intend to nurture my physical health by making mindful choices about food, movement, and rest.
5. I intend to focus on progress, not perfection, in all areas of my life.
6. I intend to practice patience and respond with kindness to myself and others.
7. I intend to live with curiosity and stay open to learning from new experiences.
8. I intend to prioritise meaningful connections and invest in relationships that bring me joy.
9. I intend to spend more time doing things that inspire creativity and joy in my life.
10. I intend to embrace discomfort as a sign of growth and approach challenges with courage.
The benefits of setting intentions
Living with intention is a powerful tool for:
- Staying more present
- Focusing on broader goals without feeling restricted
- Moving towards your desires in a realistic way
- Feeling happy and fulfilled
By setting clear intentions, you give yourself the freedom to grow, evolve, and pursue your desires with purpose — one step at a time.
Why your brain plays a vital role in honouring set intentions
Consciously setting an intention is essentially helping to manifest your New Year goals.
Carlie says: "You’re telling part of the brainstem, your Reticular Activating System (RAS), that certain information is high-focus and deserves priority. When information relating to that intention comes in, it will receive more focus. With repetition, the brain learns to pay attention to specific inputs and builds stronger neural pathways around that input. Therefore, declaring an intention every day, writing it down, and/or reinforcing it in other ways help our brain make an intention a priority."
How to set New Year intentions
Here’s some top tips for successfully setting and keeping New Year intentions.
- Be clear on your personal growth goals and what you want to achieve.
- Physically write them down and display them somewhere prominent e.g. your mirror.
- State them often - a popular time is in the morning.
- Connect your intention to a habit.
- Seek support and community by sharing your intentions with friends or family.
Start the New Year with intention
As you step into 2025, remember that small, intentional changes can lead to a life of balance, health, and happiness.
Want to go deeper? Learn more about how to set intentions for 2025 at one of six restorative wellness retreats or restful wellness weekends. Join Carlie for expert-led workshops and classes, including yoga, meditation, and mindfulness. Each experience is designed to leave you feeling rested, restored, and renewed — fully prepared to take on the new year with clarity and purpose.
Take the first step toward your most intentional year yet.
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