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Resolutions Reimagined

It’s the beginning of a new year. I figured I could reach out to you to say something math-y, but instead I thought I would share what’s really on my mind.

Yesterday, I saw this commercial for an Apple watch that struck me.  It said that most people quit their New Year’s resolutions by the second Friday in January.  It even has a name – “Quitter’s Day.”

While this did not surprise me at all, it got me thinking.

My first thought was, “Yeah, that’s certainly true for me every year since I can remember!”  While I think I was able to pull off a little more stamina than the second week of January, I’m also remembering that “go to the gym” hasn’t been checked off today’s to-do list, and I’ve got three really good reasons why it may not happen.

And then my second thought was, “But, why?” 

Why Do We Fail at Our Resolutions?

Why do we resolve to make changes and then fail at the follow-through?

I mean, I’m sure the vast majority of these resolutions are good things...  

  • Positive changes we want to make.  
  • New and beneficial things we want to do. 
  • Different experiences we want to embrace to better our lives. 

So, why do most people seem to fail at keeping their New Year’s Resolutions? 

I’m sure a lot has to do with the actual resolutions we’re making.

What Resolutions Are We Making?

We’re setting ourselves up for failure with big blanket statements like, “I’m not overdoing it on chocolate ever again” and unrealistic goals such as “I’m going to exercise every single day for two hours” and unattainable hopes like “I’m going to be chipper and sweet to every single soul I encounter in 2025!”

No wonder our resolutions fizzle so fast! Crazy resolutions rarely work.

But, we don’t fail at everything, right? We all have success stories of goals achieved. So, what’s the difference?

Honestly, I think it has more to do with how we make our resolutions. 

How Are We Making Our Resolutions?

I didn’t just wake up one early January morning, jump out of bed and resolve to record 4000+ math videos in the next 60 days. That’s not how this thing we call Nicole the Math Lady came to be. 

Instead, I recognized a need, made a plan, made adjustments as needed and got it done. Of course, that is a very simplified explanation of a five-year long process. 😉

But, it was a giant goal and I did make it happen!

So, what if I applied that same process to other things? Would my success rate hold true for other things, both big and small? 

And, that’s what I mean by resolutions reimagined. 

How Can We Reimagine Our Resolutions?

Think of some sort of success in your life. Something you’ve accomplished. Something you had to work hard for. Something you resolved to do…and did. 

The “what” doesn’t matter here. It’s the how.

  • How did you know you needed to do this thing?
  • How did you make it happen?
  • How did you decide what steps to take?
  • Once you got going, how did you know you were on the right track?
  • And how did you respond if things got off track?
  • How did you right the course and continue on?
  • And, how did you feel when you accomplished this thing?

No matter what it was, think on it for a bit and see if there are ways you can apply what you did to another goal. Even if the goals are vastly different, the person getting it done is the same person. So, how can she replicate her past success?

For me, it’ll be how can I reimagine my goal of eating healthy and losing 50 lbs…for good. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve resolved to do this. One year I even made it all the way through the end of March, but then I got off track and spent the rest of the year trying to find my way back. I’m thinking there is something I can pull from how I started Nicole the Math Lady and apply it to my health.

How about you? What resolution will you reimagine? 

Leave a comment and let me know. It would be nice to know that there are a few other people “in process” just like me.

Looking forward to a great, goal-meeting 2025! 

– Nicole

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85 thoughts on “Resolutions Reimagined”

  3. Wendy SM

    What an encouraging word! And yes, you’re not alone! I have goals that have been on my vision board year after year and others that I have accomplished; some big, some small. It is good to remember the how (and also the why). Thanks for all that you do in making math fun for my son! We are blessed to have found Nicole the Math Lady!

    Reply
  4. Michelle Urciuoli

    I appreciate this. A reminder that I can look back on past successes and follow that pattern for future success.

    In fitness we call them SMARTGoals
    Specific
    Measurable
    Achievable
    Relevant
    Time Bound

    Thinking of losing 50lbs can be daunting, but thinking of losing 1lb a week is totally doable.

    Just like thinking of starting a dance company is overwhelming, but starting one class is doable

    Reply
  7. lukestubbs

    Happy 2025 to all!!!
    also what you said is very inspiring and I am feeling reinvigorated to Actually do no sweets this year

    Reply
  11. Rachel Staycheff

    My “goal” for this year is to consistently celebrate the wins each day that are pushing me further toward my health goal. So it’s really a lot more goals embedded in there, but I just have to write down what I did (which makes me want to have something to write down at least 1-3 things each day.” I’ve found that putting that in little steps and pointing out my “wins” is helpful!l

    Great inspiration, thank you!

    Reply
  12. miathomas

    That was very inspiring and I agree that most quit their New Year’s resolutions most of the time in school or church they have us make these goals. I just do them because I have too but now that encouraged me to make new year goals and actually follow them because they can benefit us in so many ways!
    Thank you for that inspiring message!😃👏

    Reply
  19. Eleanor Moloney

    thank you mrs nicole!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you have helped me love math and resolutions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
      1. zachthomas

        Thank you Nicole! You have helped me learn more about math love it. Thank you for all you do! Happy new year!!! And mind the profile picture.

        Reply
  27. Maelle White

    😁 Thank you Mrs Nicole!! I’m still waiting to see if I got in a new ballet pointe class! That’s also crazy, like +4,000 videos?!? Thats insane!

    Reply
  32. Maya Peterson

    I love you you! are so inspiring to me
    I: love your program, you help me so much, you make math easier and more fun. Thank you so much!

    Reply
  35. Lucy Brumbaugh

    Thanks for the encouragement!! I remember when I was 7, I would make a new year’s resolutions list there would be so many asterisks next to each resolution with exceptions!! )-: I will try harder this year! Thank you!

    Reply
  37. Mariafernanda

    btw I send this a long time ago but it did not send. So can you all see this?

    Thank you Nicole! Just read this and SO true.
    I LOVE dance that this yr I am trying to be more flexible and be beter at MATH…! and congratulations by losing 50 lbs! 🥳!
    Oh and by the way Nicole I love❤️ the way you teach and you are very funny!God Bless!
    P.S Happy National pancake day!!!🥞😆🥳

    P.P.S btw I send this a long time ago( march 4) but it did not send. So can you all see this?

    Reply
  41. Zoe Thomas

    Nicole you are very beautiful and helpful to people and I love your videos and it’s help
    Me very much, thank you for your videos and your support to us and when we need help you help us and that’s is very nice to you Nicole and all of you l hope next year you can have mores support to everyone in this home school by.🌺🌺🌸🌸🌷🌹💐🪷🌻🌗💫🥖⚽️🌸💕🌷🌹

    Reply
  43. Maelle White

    Thanks for your helpful math lessons!! You helped me with math very much because when I went to private school for 5th grade, I didn’t do good on math and this year in 8th, I’m doing SOOO much better!
    Thank you again! 😝😊

    Reply
  47. tylthomas

    Nicole, i love how you help people finish math fast and easier. You are very beautiful and I hope you have a great year. GOOD LUCK!😋🙂😚🙂😍🙂😚😇😇😋🤣🥕🥨🥬🍟🧅🥓🧄🥚🥕🥞🧄🫑🌭🥒🥚🥕🍖🥐🧄

    Reply
  48. Eleanor Moloney

    thank you soooooooooooooooo much for keeping me on track with my math work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
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