In 2025, the focus is on self-improvement, contentment, and more

People release a lantern while celebrating the New Year at Marina Beach in Chennai,

The adrenaline rush of new beginnings has come and gone, and the dust of fireworks and grand parties has settled. Another year has well and truly begun, with the reality of growing old hitting hard. There is a growing urgency to live life to the fullest, and it is in this very atmosphere that new year’s resolutions find its power, helping us navigate the unknown and channel our aspirations into far-fetching goals.

The familiar, “new year, new you” often translates into accquiring a gym membership in January; a classic resolution you have probably made a note of in countless journals and notes apps at some point of time. But this year, something is amiss. “We’ve had many new clients join on January 1, but the overall count of college students is considerably less compared to previous years,” notes a gym trainer from Royapuram, Chennai.

Agra: Children pose on the eve of the new year 2025, near the Taj Mahal in Agra, Uttar Pradesh

This year, with the manifestation of new year goals and resolutions through the Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight, and vision board dates with friends , there has been a shift in priorities especially among young adults.

Shivani K, a law student from Chennai says that objective goals feel impossible to follow. “I’ve added ‘hitting the gym’ on my list of my annual aspirations for the past two years and I have never once followed through with it for more than a week.” Recognizing this pattern, she opted for a more sustainable and enjoyable approach to fitness. She adds, “So this year, instead of being obsessed with achieving my dream body, I’ve started playing badminton and I’m enjoying the classes I have signed up for .”

Amidst the increase in the pressure to secure the top spot in a highly-competitive world, young adults are prioritizing a slower pace and life’s small pleasures. Generic goals such as waking up early and saving money are being replaced with getting 8 hours of sleep and investing better, a move from simple discipline to taking one’s overall well-being into consideration.

This subtle but significant change allows for a more unique and creative approach to navigate life’s challenges, particularly focusing on mental and emotional health. Rithamika R, a college student from Coimbatore, explains, “My one ultimate goal for 2025 is to be less angry at the world.”

But this focus on inner work isn’t the whole story. This year, it is not just about becoming a better version of oneself through discipline and routine, but also about enjoying the present and granting oneself permission to indulge in things that bring them joy.

K Sivashankari, a masters’ student from Erode claims that the one thing she is looking forward to in 2025 is drinking two cups of coffee a day. “Coffee has been an integral part of my life ever since my father woke me up with my first coffee when I was 15 years old. Now, wherever I am, drinking coffee feels like home,” she says.

Dixa Sharma, an engineering student from New Delhi, also captures this evolving mindset. “My motive this year is just to embrace my self-development”.

This sentiment, echoed by many students, suggests that it is no longer solely about climbing the corporate ladder or achieving a picture-perfect physique. Instead, it is about prioritizing mental and emotional health, finding joy in simple pleasures, and embracing the imperfect.