My new year’s resolution for 2026 – is to make better new year’s resolutions, build in habits that stick and not just talk about them EVERY January in the same small talking way that British people talk about the weather. I say that as we publish a blog about habits and goals in January 2026 – but hey progress is progress!

So why are a mental health and wellbeing project thinking about Habits, Goals & New Years Resolutions?

Well – it seems that a common thread when trying to balance our wellbeing or work through difficult emotions involves building in new, healthy habits and solving problems by setting goals. So here are 5 ways to explore New Year’s Resolutions in fun, interested and health-boosting ways!

#5 - Habit Tracking

Many of the Resolutions we (as professionals) and young people make may involve regular changes or adding routines to our life. “Drink more water”, “Go to the Gym 5 times a week”, “Dance a bit more” – are all ways we are trying to add a habit to our week. But we may find that we fall at the first hurdle because we don’t remember or celebrate these enough!!

Habit Trackers can be great tools to help young people check-off their new goals (and get the boost of Dopamine that comes with completing that task) as well as make more space for it in their week.

Check out the new Rainbow Habit Tracker we’ve published this year for a tool to use [Download for free below] OR similar tools we have made in the past for specific healthy habits (and inspiration) such as the Daylight Tracker, Sleep Tracker and Water Tracker on the Free worksheet section of the Headstrong Mental Health Hub!

If you’re looking for more ways to help young people explore this topic – try out the app Finch https://finchcare.com/ or Atom https://atoms.jamesclear.com/ for other ways to be inspired to build habits and learn about them!

Recently, I was reminded of a secret superpower when forming new Habits – that the best thing you can do is tag it onto another habit – so try adding that new habit of reading to your already formed evening routine, or that Gym trip to your established weekly shop. This idea came straight form Atom & the book Atomic Habits https://atoms.jamesclear.com/!

#4 – Vision boards

I am a believer that all social media CAN be good – they have an essence of good in them – and therefore we can SOMETIMES make them work in our favour. And I think this next tip is one way we can do this. Because if your youth group is arty & creative the next way you could explore Goals, Habits and New Year’s Resolutions is through setting vision for the year!

Vision boards can help us plan and reflect on the vibe, vision, direction and ethos behind whatever we are planning (whether that’s an event, an outfit, our youth group, our next year, or something else). So, try out one of these different ways of creating a Vision board with your youth group to plan collectively as a group or reflect individuals on what you hope for 2026.

Check out the Vision Board & prompts we’ve created for you to get started- you can download this for free below.

And then get creative! You could have a collage night at youth group, cut up old magazines, books & more to reflect on your hopes for 2026. You could have a prayer night as a team or Bible Study and reflect on what you think God is saying to you and your direction.

You could check out Pinterest & all the quotes, inspiration and more to create Boards, Collages & vision set for your plans or goals for 2026 https://uk.pinterest.com/

OR try planning the year ahead and using tools to help you set vision, think big or reflect on where God is going with The Gameplan and Listen In from the Youthscape Store https://www.youthscape.co.uk/s...

#3 – To Do List

For some of us, as Youth Workers or as Youth Groups, we may be less interested in setting new Goals for the new year – and more interested in using this time to PLAN, SCHEDULE and ORGANISE.

I remember when I first bought a diary for the year – the power that To Do Lists brought to my life and the way it helped me prioritise my workload. So now, every Christmas it’s a tradition that my partner buys me my diary for the year and over the period, I sit down and organise the admin of the year (usually by the fire, with a Christmas film on and a mince pie or 2).

So, our third tip is to spend the time helping your youth group plan their year and prioritising. This may be especially helpful for those who are gearing up for exams (or who have just gone to uni, visited home for Christmas and need a little guidance). Or to simply take some time to organise and plan your work month.
Getting through the to do list – that’s a good New Year’s Resolution!

Check out the Priortising worksheet below to learn how to prioritise and plan.

Or you could try out some of the other tools out there to help your young people prepare for exam season! Such as Notion https://www.youthscape.co.uk/s..., or MyStudyLife https://mystudylife.com/

#2 - Problem Solving

For some of us – New Year’s Resolutions can be BIG DREAMS or MASSIVE things we want to conquer and change! I remember when every year my resolution would be – “Go to the Gym” but I wouldn’t figure out the distinct steps in place to help. That’s why this idea is less about Resolutions or Goal Setting and more about Problem Solving.

This Problem-Solving tool helps young people (and you) reflect on a problem to solve (maybe something we avoid or that we find difficult) and helps us reflect on the goals we need to reach to overcome it! Have a go at using out Problem solving worksheet below to help.

Begin by breaking down the actions into manageable chunks, so you can slowly build up to the solution/new goal (e.g. Find a gym near me; Begin travelling home via the Gym; After work - exercise at home; Sign-up for Gym; Attend once a week; Add a class on; etc.).

And then explore what tools and coping skills you must help you manage this. This template can be a great way to overcome a worry, plan out a big change or tackle an issue – all while making sure you (or the young person) feels supported to do it! If you’re unsure of coping skills, you could use – check out the rest of the Mental Health Hub for tools and resources or the Headstrong Journal for a guide to balancing all aspects of your life while solving problems! https://www.youthscape.co.uk/s...

#1 – Planning for the Future

And finally – we come to the classic New Year’s Resolution - Goal Setting & dreaming about the future. This may be a chance for you to set a goal for your 2026 or for you and your youth group to explore hope & looking to the future together!

Maybe you and your youth group can take some time to dream about new things, talk about things to look forward to and name a goal or hope.

As you explore these ideas – consider how you plan for and build up to these. Maybe you can check out the Preparing for Change livestream or Prayer in Motion Anxiety fidget https://www.youthscape.co.uk/s... to consider the worries it brings.

Whatever you do. However, you and your team, youth group or organisation reflect on new goals, hopes & plans for 2026 – we HOPE it is fulfilling & a chance to dig into what is good for you, what empowers you and what brings you the Hope & Joy of God.

Happy New Year!!

Robson Dodd- Alumina Project Manager and Headstrong Team Member