Why your last year’s abandoned goals deserve a second chance

When our team met for the first time this year, just after the long Christmas and New Year’s break, we unsurprisingly ended up talking about our New Year’s resolutions. We all hesitated to name anything specific, and for a moment it felt like this was going to be just another year of vague intentions.

Then the conversation shifted to a social media trend about sharing unfinished goals, and suddenly we found ourselves swapping stories about our unfulfilled resolutions from 2025. They weren’t always formal “resolutions” – more often, they were simply things we hoped to do last year, but didn’t quite get to.

These were all very different things – one colleague wanted to begin new academic studies, another hoped to travel more, and yet another planned to finally get braids and dreadlocks but didn’t (for the second or third year in a row).

I must confess that before this conversation, I never really saw the point of focusing on one’s unmet plans, unfinished projects, or unfulfilled goals. Why dwell on what didn’t happen when it’s the road ahead we’re supposed to keep our eyes on?

But our discussion stayed with me for several days. I realised that, at least for me, this sense of unfinished business from 2025 feels like a kind of debt to myself. I began to think that last year’s unrealised resolutions should actually become our first to-dos of the new year. After all, if we bring these things up as regrets about the year gone by, it means they matter. Let’s be honest – there are countless things we didn’t do last year, but these were the ones that stood out enough to mention.

How to repurpose old goals

This isn’t a guide on how to complete last year’s resolution homework (though hopefully, by the end of 2026, I’ll be able to share one with you). Still, after thinking about this topic for several days, I’ve arrived at a few conclusions on how to best “recycle” last year’s intents.

The first step is simply telling someone about them. If you keep your abandoned resolutions to yourself, you’re far less motivated to pursue them in the new year. But when you share your regret or unfinished plan with a family member, a friend, or – in my case – a colleague, you’re more likely to hold yourself accountable. In our conversation, we also encouraged one another that these failed resolutions are valid and worth working on.

Second, it’s probably a good idea to introduce adjustments to last year’s failed plans. There’s always a reason why we didn’t follow through. To increase the chances of actually achieving these goals now, it may be useful to tweak them – make them a little easier, more realistic, or less intimidating. This mindset also allows us to see our unfulfilled resolutions as iterations, not failures.

For example, I’ve been dreaming of having braids and dreadlocks for several years. If I’m honest, I’m probably a bit scared, or I see too many downsides, which is why I still haven’t done it. So to help myself go for it, I’ve decided to explore options for partially braiding my hair instead of doing my whole head at once. It feels less daunting (and it’s already helping).

Third, don’t postpone. If your abandoned resolution involves a new hobby, carve out a time slot for it every week – or even every day – starting today. If you want to change your hair, like I do, make the appointment without delay. If you want to travel more, start saving or searching for flights (now).

If your goal is bigger, like returning to your studies, break it into smaller steps. Send an email to express interest (today), start setting aside money, or take any other manageable actions that move you closer to your goal. 

Should companies also recycle their goals?

I believe these tips apply just as well in business. If you manage a team or an organisation, there’s probably a list of resolutions that didn’t stick – or projects you never even had time to start. It’s true that some items in your backlog may be better off closed. But others could benefit from being reframed, repurposed, or broken down into actionable steps (and January is a perfect time for such work!).

At the beginning of last year, Truesix founders Krista and Julia actually sat down to solidify our company strategy – principles we had been operating by more or less already, but had never written down. This, too, had been an unfulfilled plan from earlier years, and finally completing it made a real difference. Now, whenever we’re unsure about taking on a client or a project, we revisit that strategy to see whether it supports our direction or would simply pull us away from our long-term goals.

Long story short: yes – teams and companies should also revisit their unfinished goals, dust them off, polish them and put them in the spotlight for 2026. Whether it’s updating the company strategy, improving internal processes, implementing new tools, or finally starting proper brand communication, these goals deserve renewed attention.

Don’t forget to thank yourself

In conclusion, what matters more than dwelling on your failed resolutions is recognizing what you DID accomplish. My approach is simple: I jot down a list of things I want to thank myself for from the past year. Such a small practice works wonders for me – it reminds me just how much there is to be grateful for, and, most importantly, grateful to myself for making those things happen.

With that gratitude as your foundation, be gentle with yourself while also acknowledging what didn’t work out. And as a gift to your future self, don’t throw those unfinished goals away – recycle them by taking one, two or many steps toward them this year.