Struggling to Stick to Your New Year's Resolutions? Here's a Game-Changing Way to Stay on Track

Feb 133 min read

Stay Motivated with This Gamified Approach to Achieving Your Goals

I don't know about you, but 2025 has gotten off to a rocky start.

Only a month and a half into the new year, we've been hit with seemingly endless disasters and tragedies. I dread watching the evening news, mentally preparing myself for the worst, only to be unpleasantly surprised every time. At least half of my cell phone notifications are news alerts, and rarely are they good news. It's been mentally and emotionally draining, and I hate to admit how checked out and disengaged I've been.

At the end of 2024, I was determined to make this year different. I had big plans—lists, personal milestones, and professional goals. 2025 was going to be my year. But instead of feeling inspired, I already feel behind.

And apparently, I'm not alone.

Why Do Most New Year's Resolutions Fail?

Studies show that sticking to New Year's resolutions is more challenging than we think. According to Columbia University, only about 25% of people stay committed to their resolutions after 30 days. The second Friday in January is even known as "Quitters Day" because of how many people give up on their resolutions by then. A 2023 Forbes Health survey found that the average resolution lasts less than four months.

With the odds so heavily stacked against us, that got me thinking: if traditional goal-setting methods aren't working, what does?

Staying Motivated: Gamification

While researching—and, let's be real, doing a fair amount of doomscrolling—I came across the idea of a gamified resolutions list. Instead of setting rigid goals that feel overwhelming, you turn them into a game.

I'll let Christopher from magnify explain:

If you, like me, have trouble sticking to your New Year's resolutions, try making it more fun with a game-like approach. Instead of looking at your goals as a long to-do list, think of them as a fun challenge. This way, working towards your goals can be more exciting and motivate you all year. You can add things like rewards and challenges and track your progress to give you a sense of achievement, making your journey toward personal growth an adventure instead of a boring chore.

I loved the idea so much that I created my own Bucket List Bingo for 2025. Instead of one big resolution, I compiled a list of 24 things I really want to accomplish this year. Some of them are silly, and some of them are pretty big personal and professional goals, but all of them are important to me and things that make me excited to try, which, if I'm being completely honest, I haven't felt in a long while.

Filled-in 2025 Bucket List Bingo card with various goals like "start an herb garden" and "read 50 books." Blue and beige wave pattern.

Now, instead of putting all my hopes into one or two resolutions (and feeling terrible when I don't achieve them), I have 12 chances to get Bingo throughout the year. It feels so much more manageable and a far more realistic way to look at my goals and work towards them. And, honestly, way more fun. Even if I don't complete all my goals by the end of the year, I'll still be able to see my progress.

Ditch the Resolutions, Play the Game

Start by jotting down the goals or experiences you want to tackle this year, big or small, and arrange them into a 5x5 grid. Once you check off each item, mark it off. Try to complete whole rows for a bingo or even the entire card!

Want to make your goal-setting a little more fun? Download my free 2025 Bingo Bucket List template and start ticking off your achievements! And if you need inspiration for what to include on your bingo card, check out Life Kit's Resolution Planner for some great ideas.

Happy (belated) New Year! Let's make 2025 the year of progress, not pressure—one square at a time!