3 ways to level up your successes in 2025

We’re a few weeks into the new year, and it’s the perfect time to check in on your resolutions. Did you make any this year? If not, don’t fret. December and January are traditionally when people reflect on the past 12 months and pick apart what they’d like to change about themselves. And those things can feel endless: fitness, money goals, eating habits, sexy travel bucket lists and more. Along with the pressure of those resolutions comes the not-so-subtle assumption that we’ll abandon most of them by Valentine’s Day. But what if we imagined the New Year’s spirit as a higher resolution of our best qualities? Say, 4K?

Contrary to popular belief, it’s a myth that we form habits in only 21 days. It can reasonably take weeks or months for new resolutions to stick. Broken resolutions can feel discouraging to some people because they expect a habit to form sooner than their body or mind is ready. But one way to start the New Year off right is to sharpen your successes from 2024. Think: New Year… Same You! It doesn’t have to be either/or. You can still have fresh resolutions and prepare to repeat some of last year’s high points.

So, what should go in a “New Year…Same You” strategy session? If you’ve already tallied off your highlights from last year, you’re ahead of the game. But don’t worry if you haven’t—2025 still has that “New Year” scent on it. You have plenty of time to pick out any areas or categories that went well, that you can either build on or replicate. Write those down in a list if you’re a list-making person, or draw a grid if you need things spread out visually.

Then, consider what you would need to do to continue that trend or give it more attention. Will you need structure or support? Enlist all the tools you have available, including tech, planners, and accountability partners. The most important thing is to dive into what gives you a sense of accomplishment. Your mileage may vary, but here are a few examples on how to stay consistent or apply pressure to the areas where you rocked in 2024.

Sexual health

You finally found a birth control method that fits your body, your lifestyle, and your needs? Congrats, bb! Let’s keep that hot streak going. If you’re on the birth control pill, set a series of reminders in your favorite app to take your pill daily. You can also set a nudge to let you know when to start a new pack after your 21-day or 28-day pack ends. Getting the birth control shot means making an appointment, which can sneak up on you if you let it. Get that appointment ticked off your list now with a phone call, so that your next shot is booked in your calendar. This can especially help if your provider’s office has a busy schedule and is booked for months out. Oh, and consider this a reminder to check the expiration dates on your condoms.

Relationships and dating

If you rang in 2025 with someone who made you feel fireworks last year, first of all, LFG! Enjoying love is always a great resolution. “Relationship goals” doesn’t have to focus on how people see your relationship from the outside. Check in with your partner and think of ways you both can deepen and strengthen your connection. Spending more quality time? Supporting each other in your personal goals? Fine-tuning your communication? Or, if you’re a hopeless romantic, pencil in surprises on your secret calendar to show your lover how much you care throughout the year.

For those of you wading in the dating pool, besides having a blast in your single era, now is a great time to review your green, pink, and red flags. Our desires and preferences shift over time. Did you have any dating experiences last year that might have changed from pink flags (small concerns) to red flags (big, glaring, no-go warnings)? Consider what kinds of dating approaches worked or turned you off. Keeping an open mind can help your love life, but if you discovered a dating hack that works for you, ride it til the wheels fall off!

Friends and family

Think of your best moments of 2024. Were they filled with the laughter of friends and family? We love that for you. Let’s do it again in 2025 by being intentional about connecting with loved ones. You may or may not have a holiday hangover for now, but try to plan for the next time you or your BFF(s) can get together. It doesn’t have to be a big event. Think coffee, tea, walks in the park, a museum outing, a movie, or even a phone call date to catch up now that vacations are over. Use January to get started on the memories you’ll cherish at the end of 2025.

Of course, there might be other things about 2024 that you wouldn’t mind continuing. Focus on the aspects of your life you already love, on the things you do well, and on the people who encourage you to be great.