Local counselor outlines how to avoid New Year's resolution dropoff

Many New Year's resolutions fizzle because they are driven by outside pressure rather than personal commitment, local licensed professional clinical counselor Rebecca Robinette warned, and she offered clear steps Yuma residents can use to build habits that stick. Drawing on self-determination theory, Robinette said intrinsic motivation — doing something because it aligns with your values — is central to lasting change.

Robinette urged people to begin by reflecting on what matters to them, then translate those values into small, realistic actions. Instead of dramatic, all-or-nothing changes that burn out by mid-January, she recommended incremental goals and a steady focus on consistency. That approach applies whether the aim is to improve fitness, shore up finances, or support mental health during long stretches of work or retirement in Yuma.

Practical examples help bring the advice home. For fitness goals, short daily walks along the riverfront or a modest morning stretching routine are more sustainable than an intense gym overhaul that fits into a single week. For financial resolutions, break down saving into weekly amounts or automate transfers in small increments rather than attempting a sudden overhaul of spending. For mental health, schedule brief, regular practices — a five-minute breathing break, a weekly check-in with a friend or neighbor, or a short walk in the sunlight — instead of demanding immediate transformative shifts.

Robinette emphasized the value of consistent small wins. Track progress in simple ways, celebrate tiny milestones, and adjust expectations when life in Yuma gets busy with seasonal work, family obligations, or travel. She suggested reframing setbacks as part of the process rather than proof of failure; returning to a daily habit after a lapse matters more than maintaining perfection.

Local context matters. Yuma's winter visitors and year-round residents face unique rhythms: harvest schedules, heat considerations as seasons change, and social calendars tied to family and community events. Making goals fit around those patterns increases the odds they will persist. Building accountability into the plan — a friend to check in with, a community class that meets weekly, or a scheduled reminder tied to daily routines — can anchor habits without adding pressure.

The takeaway? Start small, make goals match your values, and aim for steady repetition rather than dramatic transformation. Our two cents? Pick one tiny action you can realistically do tomorrow morning and do it again the next day — momentum grows out of small, steady steps, and that’s how resolutions turn into routines.