As the new year approaches, many of us begin to reflect on the past year and set goals for the upcoming one. New Year's resolutions are a time-honored tradition, but sticking to them can be challenging. It's not uncommon for these resolutions to lose steam after the initial excitement fades away.
However, with the right tools and strategies, you can keep your motivation levels high and your goals within reach. Digital automation tools like IFTTT (If This Then That) make it easier to achieve and maintain your resolutions.
By automating routine tasks, IFTTT can help you focus on what's truly important, allowing you to invest your energy in areas that matter most. In this article, we'll explore the top ten New Year's resolutions and how IFTTT helps millions across the globe stick to their goals.
What is a New Year's resolution?
New Year's resolutions are still incredibly popular, as people challenge the long-held belief that most New Year's resolutions fail. In short, a New Year's Resolution is a personal commitment or goal people set at the start of the new year.
These resolutions typically focus on self-improvement, personal growth, or achieving specific objectives over the coming year. The tradition is rooted in the idea of starting fresh and making positive changes as a new calendar year begins.
To see ten proven tips for keeping your New Year's Resolutions throughout the year and beyond, visit our blog here. Remember, the longer you can stick to a habit, the easier it gets, so don't give up!
Top New Year's resolution ideas for 2025
1. Get fit and stay healthy
This resolution isn't exactly groundbreaking: getting fit is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions. However, this resolution tops the list year after year because fitness is not just about aesthetics; it's about improving your overall well-being and enhancing your quality of life.
With IFTTT, you can automate fitness tracking and reminders to ensure you stay on track. For instance, you can create a workflow that logs your daily steps from a fitness tracker to a Google Spreadsheet, keeping track of your progress.
Additionally, you can set up reminders to drink water or take a walk every hour. These small, regular prompts can encourage you to incorporate healthy habits into your daily routine without overwhelming your schedule.
In fact, IFTTT integrates with all of your favorite fitness tools, such as FitBit, Android Activity, Strava, and IOS Health. Plus, we're always adding more services so be on the watch for new updates!
2. Save more money
Again, another traditional resolution that still rings true today, saving money will always require discipline and consistency. Especially today, with the myriad of expenses and temptations to spend, maintaining a savings habit can be daunting. Not to mention the constant bombardment of consumer-targeted advertising and influencing, meaning your precious savings can slip away all too easily.
Don't fret, because IFTTT can automate savings by linking your bank account to a budgeting app. Or, every time you make a purchase, automate a small percentage to transfer into your savings account. This hands-free approach can help you build a savings habit effortlessly. By accumulating savings incrementally, you can achieve significant financial goals over time without feeling deprived.
3. Learn something new
We all want to learn something new, but many of us seem too busy with work or other responsibilities. Whether it's discovering interesting facts from Reddit, staying updated through your favorite RSS feeds, or exploring niche topics on curated platforms, automation can bring learning to you.
Use IFTTT to automatically save popular posts from your favorite subreddits, like r/TodayILearned to Pocket and receive summaries of new RSS feed posts as they’re published. With reminders sent straight to your phone, you can easily stay engaged, discover new facts, and avoid losing interest over time.
4. Get organized
They say a clear desk is a clear mind, and going into the New Year, it's all about staying organized. Keeping neat can boost productivity and reduce stress, allowing you to manage your time more effectively and achieve your goals. One lesser talked about aspect of being organized is staying on top of your online clutter, which can pile up and be just as distracting as a physical mess.
IFTTT can help by automating to-do lists and calendar events, turning organization from a chore into an autoamted process. With IFTTT you can set reminders for important deadlines or synce your calendars across devices. You can even connect your email to a task management app so that any flagged emails automatically turn into tasks.
5. Quit bad habits
Breaking bad habits is tough. Whether it's smoking, excessive drinking, or unhealthy eating, overcoming these habits will enhance your well being.
Use IFTTT to set up reminders or triggers that encourage positive behavior, helping you stay committed to your goals. For example, you can receive a prompt each day to journal about your progress or receive a motivational quote or an alert with the benefits of quitting whatever vice you may have. This constant reinforcement will help you overcome those challenges.
6. Spend more time with family and friends
In today's busy world, it's easy to lose track of time and let important relationships slide. Yet, nurturing these relationships is key to a fulfilling life.
Schedule weekly family dinners or game nights using IFTTT to ensure these events become a regular part of your routine. Have your smart devices remind you to disconnect from work and focus on loved ones, creating a clear boundary between professional and personal life.
7. Travel more
Traveling can be a wonderful way to explore new cultures and relax, providing a break from the routine and a chance to recharge. Use IFTTT to monitor travel deals or flight prices, ensuring you never miss an opportunity for adventure. You can receive notifications when prices drop, allowing you to book your dream vacation at the best rates. Or consider automating packing lists and itinerary planning to ensure a stress-free travel experience.
8. Read more books
Reading is a great habit that can expand your mind and reduce stress, offering an escape into different worlds and ideas. It can improve your vocabulary, increase empathy, and even boost your cognitive skills.
Set up a schedule with IFTTT to remind you to read a chapter a day, making reading a consistent part of your routine. Connect your e-reader to your calendar so it can track your reading goals and alert you when it's time to dive into a book. By breaking reading into manageable chunks, you can tackle even the longest of books without feeling overwhelmed.
9. Reduce screen time
The average person spends nearly seven hours each day on a device. Excess screen time can negatively impact your health, leading to issues such as eye strain, poor posture, and disrupted sleep patterns. It can also consume time that could be spent on more enriching activities.
Use IFTTT to set limits on your device usage, creating healthier boundaries with technology. This can help you stay mindful of your usage and encourage more offline activities, such as spending time outdoors or engaging in hobbies.
10. Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness is key to maintaining mental health, offering a way to stay grounded and present in the moment. Mindfulness doesn't have to be meditation, rather any way you find yourself able to disconnect and have some time to look inwards.
For people who do enjoy meditation, you can automate daily meditation reminders with IFTTT, ensuring that mindfulness becomes a regular part of your routine. You can also receive motivational quotes or calming music to help you relax, creating a peaceful environment conducive to mindfulness.
Smashing your goals with IFTTT
Looking for that one extra push to propel you to the best version of you? Look no further than IFTTT, the most trusted automation service for small businesses, health and fitness and productivity optimizers.
The basic idea behind IFTTT is to create "Applets" or sets of instructions that trigger when certain conditions are met. This can be turning on the lights automatically when you enter your house, or closing your garage door when you leave the house. Our powerful system can be expanded to complex automation, such as logging progress in a spreadsheet or generating custom milestones to keep you on track.
Founded in 2011, IFTTT has since been used by over 30 million individuals around the globe to automate both business and home tasks, saving time and increasing efficiency. It's used to connect over 1000 different services and systems, making all products and services work well together in a way that instills user confidence. Best of all, it's free and only takes a couple of minutes to set up.
How to get started with IFTTT
Creating an Account
Start by visiting the IFTTT website. Click on the "Sign Up" button, then follow the prompts. You can register using your email, Google, or Apple account for quick access.
To find specific services, use the search function. Typing a service name will display relevant applets and integration options. You can use the explore page to find pre-made Applets or create your own using the steps outlined below.
Building an Applet
Click the "Create" icon in the upper right corner. Then, follow these steps:
Click on the "Add" icon for your trigger.
Search for a service you would like to be your trigger.
Select from our list of available triggers.
Repeat the process for the "Then That" action tab. Make sure to grant IFTTT the needed permissions. We never store, sell, or share any of your data.
See, getting started with IFTTT is easy! Try us for free today and see why IFTTT is the most trusted automation solution for millions across the globe.