In 2025, Change for Good
The New Year feels like a fresh start—a chance to Refine your ways to the life you desire. It’s a time when personal, professional, and financial goals come together. I am of the strong belief that your financial life grows best when your personal and professional life are also doing well.
But often, we expect money to fix everything and make us happy. While money helps in some areas, it can’t solve every problem or make you a better person. A good person, however, can bring positive change to all parts of their life.
So it’s always better to first work on your personal life, which should reflect on your professional side. Financial Life is just the By-Product of them both.
Every New Year beginning, when you think about improving yourself, you come up with a long list of goals. But trying to do too much at once can leave you feeling stressed and unsure, causing you to give up. Even if you start, staying on track can be hard, and excuses start to creep in. That’s why it is difficult to keep up with the Resolutions. (Also Read: Luck or Skill, What Matters More in Success?)
Setting goals or making Resolutions is always the first step of the process. This is like defining where you want to go. But WHY, HOW, and WHAT it will take is yet to be determined.
Remember, you don’t have to do everything alone. Family, friends, and colleagues can help, and sometimes professional guidance is useful. But some things are only your responsibility.
To reach your goals, you need four things: Money, Time, Energy (Health), and Skills. It’s important to balance these. Ask yourself if you have enough of each and if you’re willing to use all of them for one goal. Sometimes, it’s better to ask for help or share the load.
When managing your limited resources, it’s essential to distinguish between investing and spending. If your actions grow or multiply the resource you use, consider it an investment; otherwise, it’s spending.
For example, learning a new skill is an investment of your money, time, and energy, as it could potentially yield greater financial returns and free up time in the future. However, it may not restore the energy you put in—unless you simultaneously invest in maintaining your health.
Traveling consumes your Time, Money, and Energy. Doesn’t Return your Time and Money, but may build on some skills, and also help regain Energy.
Dig Deep to understand your goals:
Now start by listing areas of your life where you want to improve. As you think about your goals, ask yourself:
- Why is this goal important to me?
- How will achieving it change my life?
- If it matters so much, why haven’t I done it yet?
The first questions will lead you to the Seriousness of the goal. The second question will answer its impact. High Impact goals need to be tackled first. The last question will give you the excuses, the reasoning you have always given to yourself to not working on the goals.
Excuses are barriers you create for yourself. Reflect on the reasons you think you can’t achieve your goal. Are they valid, or are they rooted in fear, laziness, or doubt? Books like Atomic Habits by James Clear and The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma offer valuable insights into building discipline and breaking excuses. You might also find inspiration in Essentialism or Jay Shetty’s works.
The 3 questions help ensure your goals are truly important and not just passing ideas. Knowing why a goal matters will keep you motivated, even when things get hard. (Read: The art of setting and achieving financial Goals)
If you still can’t figure out the Goals and are stuck in the vague resolutions. The below list may give you an Idea.
New Year Resolution 2025 Ideas
- One Habit You Want to Change or Build – What is holding you back? That Screen time, or the negative attitude that does not let you perform well.
- One Thing You Want to Learn – A skill or knowledge that could benefit your life or career, like learning a new language or picking up a hobby.
- One Thing You Want to Start – A project or activity you’ve put off, like writing, exercising, or volunteering.
- One Thing You Want to Experience – Something exciting, Trekking, Snorkelling, Attending a Live concert, or a Live Match.
- One Place You Want to Travel – Travel to a place that inspires you.
- One Dish You Want to Try – Try a new food or cuisine.
- One Person You Want to Thank – Show gratitude to someone who has helped you.
- One Book You Want to Read – Choose a book that interests you.
To achieve your goals, take small steps. As Simon Sinek says, “If your WHY is strong, you will figure out the HOW.”
Don’t try to Start Everything at once. Studies show that starting with easy goals boosts confidence and keeps you going. But sometimes, the goal you are procrastinating is the one that can change your life the most. Balancing simple goals with harder ones leads to real growth. Also, time management is equally important so you should not surrender soon.
For example, traveling or trying new food may feel easy, but changing habits or learning new skills can seem difficult. Work on both by breaking big goals into smaller steps, so you stay motivated.
Conclusion:
This year, simplify your resolutions. Choose one thing that truly matters to you, and commit to it with all your heart. Focus on your why, plan your how, and embrace the journey. Even if you don’t achieve your goal, remember that the journey is more important than the destination. The growth, learning, and experiences along the way are what truly matter.
After all, the New Year is not about transforming overnight but about taking deliberate steps toward a better you.
In the end, real change comes from being consistent and intentional. Focus on one thing at a time, enjoy the process, and let your progress build. Even if you don’t achieve everything, remember—the effort alone is valuable.
WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY, PROSPEROUS and PRODUCTIVE NEW YEAR 2025
