How to Create Lasting Habits

by Julie Gilbert January 11, 2026

Perhaps in the New Year you set a new habit/goal/intention.

I am sure you have heard some of the daunting statistics that point to the low success rate of most resolutions. For those of you who do make New Year’s Resolutions here are the findings:

8-12 % of people successfully keep their resolutions (88-92% unfortunately do not

80 - 90% of resolutions are abandoned within the first weeks or months. Around 25% of people stay committed after 30 day. However, this drops significantly by the end of February

(75% have lost the "mojo" to keep it up!)

Do you want to be one of the 8-12% who make progress?!

Note the word PROGRESS! It's not about PERFECTION!

Here are few tips that have proven results!

Mindset ~

When you have a positive mindset surrounding your goal, you begin to identify more closely with that goal. For example, you set a goal or an intention to get up 30 minutes earlier in 2026 to spend time in meditation. Rather than telling yourself "I am not a morning person." Tell yourself "I can BECOME a morning person. "I truly believe there are times when we have to ACT AS IF! The feeling typically follows if we continue the action.

Progress rather than perfection ~

Seeking perfection is a surefire way to fail. It simply isn't possible. The goal is steady growth rather than perfection. Embrace the fact that you will fall and that is OK. William Shakespeare nailed it when he said "a person that never climbs will never fall." So keep climbing.

Know your WHY!

If your goal is simply a check box on your daily To Do List, it will begin to feel like a "should" and be quite daunting. It will lose its luster and the appeal to stick with it will slowly begin to vanish. And there you are, one of the 75% who give it up after 30 days. When you have a clearly defined why, this drives your motivation.

Why do I get up at "O Dark 30" every morning? Is it to be more productive? That might motivate me for a while. But when I spend some time reflecting on why I choose to get up so early, the why that has allowed me to be successful and consistent is I want clarity of vision for my day before the noise of the day begins. There are a few more whys behind this, but this is the one that get me out of bed. It isn't just an act of discipline, but a deeper desire to set my compass point in the direction God has for me. Your why or your purpose is what gives you the discipline to continue long after others have given up. Resist the urge to attach legalistic and heavy "shoulds" to your well-intentioned goal(s).

Small, Doable, Now!

This mantra was shared with me years ago, and it is one I turn to often when I'm setting a new intention. Is it Small enough that I can Do It/achieve it? Now? It doesn't need to be accomplished or completed NOW but are there actions I can begin to take NOW to move me in the direction of my goal? Sit with that question as you strive to set realistic expectations for yourself. Set yourself up for success by aiming for Small, Doable, and Now. SMALL tasks that are DOABLE NOW. There are plenty of opportunities to grow your intention slowly.

If your desired goal do not meet these three criteria, perhaps it is something. to push pause on.

Seek Accountability

Find like minded friends and community to walk the journey with you. Friends and accountability partners walk alongside us, encourage us, and help us stay committed and consistent. Create a plan for regular check-ins. Maybe it's a weekly coffee date or a phone call. For some it may be a quick daily text. What does an accountability relationship look like for you?

As we set our goals/intentions may we never forget that attached to that goal is a larger umbrella goal of BECOMING!

It isn’t about arriving, perfecting, completing…

It is a process of continually BECOMING!

So today, alongside your never ending to do list, perhaps you craft a daily To Be list.

Who/What are you BECOMING?

Ex): I want to become patient and more intentional with when & what I eat.

Don’t let life’s busyness prevent you from giving time and space to BECOMING.

It is about becoming more and more the person that lives into your PURPOSE.

CHALLENGE: What does BECOMING look like for you today?

Reach out and

Stretch towards those things on your TO BE list.

Don’t stop BECOMING!

Who, What and How are you to BECOME?

Create Your Goals

(I have created a PDF you can print and use)

If you are looking to make healthy change, uncover your purpose and passion, set realistic goals for the year ahead, I am here to help!