6 Great Times to Set Resolutions for Yourself (That Aren’t the New Year)

With January 2025 nearly come and gone, we can't be the only ones looking back and questioning our overambitious New Year's resolutions.

In our humble opinion, the start of the year is the absolute wrong time for the majority of people to commit to big changes in their lives. There's a certain optimism that permeates this period, from the aftermath of holiday celebrations to feeling more rested and relaxed during winter break, that makes us feel like we can accomplish anything, therefore setting unrealistic expectations for the years to come. But that doesn't mean we think we should swear off the concept entirely. Instead, we suggest implementing them more situationally. Below, find six times beyond the New Year that are perfect for setting resolutions for yourself.

The Lunar New Year

The Lunar New Year arrives in either late January or early February each year, and while that may seem too close to the other New Year to make much of a difference, it really does. Those few weeks allow us to get back into the swing of things after a time away from other priorities, giving us a better idea of our baseline and what's practical for the year ahead. Each Lunar New Year is also associated with one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, each with their own meaning that can guide your self-improvement activities. For example, 2025 is the Year of the Snake, suggesting reflection and shedding our old skin and baggage in order to grow into our best selves.

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Also read about: Lucky Instagram Captions for Every Photo Celebrating the Lunar New Year

 

The Spring Equinox

We've always believed it would make the most sense to celebrate the new year during the spring equinox, when the weather warms up and life seems to spring up everywhere you look. Resolutions made during this time can have the same issue as traditional New Year's resolution, since the sunny days and colorful nature can imbue us with a sense of hope, but at least when we're invigorated during the spring, we can do something about it by going outside and making the most of the day. The spring equinox also coincides astrology with the start of Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, associated with kicking new things off, the desire to act and unstoppable willpower. Those are all things we recommend channeling into a resolution.

 

Any Full Moon

We love the idea of setting resolutions with the full moon, not only because it's an observable milestone to align with, but also because 30-day goals can be much more achievable and encouraging that ones for the entire year. You can do this casually, by simply noticing when the full moon arrives each month, or learn more about lunar calendars to follow these cycles precisely and get more in tune with the moon's natural rhythms, depending on how serious you want to get. Further, the moon's cycle symbolizes going full circle with something, with the full moon being the time to enjoy the bounty you've cultivated since the previous cycle. Every full year of the moon also has a special meaning you can use to set specific goals for yourself while working to establish better habits for your future.

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Also read about: A Guide to Every Full Moon in 2025

 

The New School Year

Not to add even more to your plate if you're entering a new school year, but this can be a great time to take stock of how you approach school and establish some rules about how to do great work without pushing yourself too hard. Rather than setting these resolutions on your first day or even the first week, we suggest waiting about a month, when you have a better understanding of your schedule and your workload. Further, we think school year resolutions shouldn't be about cramming and spending all of your time focused on academics, but finding a good balance that allows you the space and rest to learn. Work smarter, not harder.

 

The Start of a New Relationship

It might sound a little strange to come up with relationship resolutions, but hear us out.  When you're seeing someone new, it can be tempting to reshape yourself to be more of their ideal person, or bend on some of your personal rules to keep them happy, when instead, you should remember the importance of sticking to your guns and just being you. After all, you don't want to have to fake certain aspects of yourself for the rest of your relationship. You may also want to look at past relationships and resolve to behave differently than you have before, or take a stance at the first sign of certain red flags. It may feel like you're going overboard, but it's all in service of creating a healthy, happy relationship—and calling things quits if one simply won't be possible.

 

Also read about: Why It's Okay to Be Picky When It Comes to Dating

 

Your Birthday

"New year, new you," doesn't just have to apply to the calendar year. Your birthday means you're stepping into a new age (literally), giving you the opportunity to set the scene for precisely the year you want to create for yourself. It's all about you, with no outside pressure to stick to your goal unless you decide to share with others to hold you accountable. Figure out what you want to achieve, and see if you're still sticking with it when your next birthday rolls around.

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Want to set a low-effort goal you'll actually stick to? Click HERE for some of our favorite suggestions.