30+ Examples of 2026 New Year’s Resolutions & Financial Tips

What is your 2026 New Year’s resolution this time? If not, now is the time to set new resolutions and determine to be better than the previous year. To find out the 2026 calendar & Public Holidays as well as the Academic Calendar, please refer to:

Let us share some examples of new year’s resolutions that you can plan for the coming year.

What does Azam mean?

Azam means determination, intention, or strong desire to achieve a goal or do something. It refers to decisions made with all seriousness to change, improve oneself, or achieve something in life.

In the context of a new year’s resolution, it refers to a goal or change that a person wants to achieve when entering the new year.

From a psychological point of view, willpower serves as a motivational driver that turns dreams into realistic plans of action. The main difference between determination and pipe dreaming lies in the level of commitment.

30+ Examples of New Resolutions for 2026

Here are some ideas for New Year’s resolutions for 2026. You can choose which ones are appropriate or used as inspiration for setting your own resolutions:

Health & Fitness (Physical & Mental)

• Aim for 10,000 Steps a Day: Move consistently for heart health.
• Drink 2-3 Liters of Water: Replace sugary drinks with mineral water entirely.
• 7-8 Hours of Quality Sleep: Set a fixed bedtime every night.
• Sugar Fasting (Sugar Detox): Reduce or stop consuming sugar in daily drinks.
• Regular Practice: Do physical activity at least 3 times a week.
• Digital Detox Exercise: Turn off all electronic devices one hour before bed.
• 5 Minute Meditation: Take time every morning for peace of mind.

Financial management

• Building an Emergency Fund: Save at least 6 months’ salary in a separate account.
• Smart Investment: Start investing in unit trusts (ASB), gold, or sharia shares.
• Fee Note: Use financial apps to track every penny that goes out.
• Resolve Credit Card Debt: Focus on paying off debt consistently.
• Automatic Saving: Set up automatic salary deductions to a savings account of 10-20%.
• Cook at Home: Reduce the frequency of eating out or ordering food delivery.

New Careers & Skills

• Master AI Technology: Learn how to use AI tools for work productivity.
• LinkedIn Update: Build a more attractive professional profile for career opportunities.
• Read 1 Book a Month: Focus on the self-development or business management genre.
• Learn a New Language: For example, Mandarin, Arabic or Japanese for added value.
• Take Professional Certificate: Attend short courses that are recognized in your industry.
• Improve Communication Skills: Dare to speak in public or in meetings.

Personal Development & Lifestyle

• Get up early: Start the day at 5.00 or 6.00 am to be more productive.
• Write a Gratitude Journal: Write down 3 things to be grateful for every day.
• Reduce Social Media ‘Scrolling’: Limit device usage time to a maximum of 1-2 hours a day.
• Learn to Cook Healthy Recipes: Try one new recipe every weekend.
• Decomposition: Make sure the home and office environment is always neat.
• Travel to Domestic Destinations: Supporting local tourism in the context of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

Relationships & Spirituality

• Find a Mentor: Get guidance from individuals who are more experienced in life.
• Quality Time Without the Phone: Eat with family without gadget distractions.
• Weekly Parent Contact: Ensure family ties are always strong.
• Join Volunteer Work: Contribute energy to the community or charity.
• Forgive More: Letting go of old grudges for better peace of mind.
• Consistency of Daily Worship: Improving the quality and quantity of worship according to each person’s beliefs.

How to Make Resolutions Easy to Achieve

Simplifying resolutions means making them clearer, more organized, and easier to achieve. Here’s how to simplify your resolutions:

1. Use the SMART Framework

Make sure your resolution meets SMART characteristics:

• Specific (Specific): State clearly what you want to achieve.
  • Example: “I want to lose weight” → “I want to lose 5 kg in 3 months.”
• Measurable (Measurable): Make sure it’s measurable so you know your progress.
• Achievable: Make sure the resolution is realistic based on your situation.
• Relevant (Related): Focus on resolutions that are important and relevant to your life.
• Time-bound (Term): Set a time frame to achieve it.

2. Make a List of Small Steps

Break big resolutions into small steps to make them seem more achievable.

• Example: If your resolution is “to save RM5,000 this year”, a small step might be to save RM400 every month.

3. Write down your resolutions

Write your resolutions somewhere visible, such as in a notebook, whiteboard, or phone app. This helps you stay focused and is constantly reminded.

4. Monitor Progress Regularly

Set a time to review your progress, either weekly or monthly. This allows you to see what has been achieved and what needs to be improved.

5. Involve Others

Tell your family or friends about your decision. They can support, motivate, or help you stay consistent.

6. Reward Yourself

Set rewards for every small success you achieve. This can help maintain motivation.

• Example: “If I manage to exercise 4 times a week for a month, I will buy myself new clothes.”

7. Manage Challenges and Obstacles

Think about potential obstacles that may arise and prepare a plan to overcome them.

• Example: If you are busy with work and don’t have time to exercise, schedule exercise in the morning before work.

8. Consistent and Flexible

Don’t give up if you get lost for a moment. Adjust your resolution if necessary to make it more relevant or achievable.

9. Focus on One or Two Big Resolutions

Avoid having too much determination so that it is difficult to concentrate. Pick the most important ones and start from there.

Financial Management Tips 2026

1. Conduct a “Post 2025” Financial Audit.

Before we move further into 2026, let’s look back at last year’s financial records.

• Where do the biggest money leaks occur? (Example: Eating out, unused app subscriptions).
• Are your savings increasing or decreasing?
• Action: Use this data to set a more realistic budget for 2026.

2. Apply the 50/30/20 Formula

These are the most effective basic rules for dividing your monthly salary:

• 50% Requirement: House rent, car payments, kitchen equipment, and utility bills.
• 30% Wishes: Entertainment, traveling, hobbies and eating at cafes that are going viral.
• 20% Savings & Investments: Emergency fund, ASB, EPF or gold savings.

3. Strengthen Emergency Funds

2026 may bring unexpected economic challenges. Make sure you have at least some savings 3 to 6 months salary in an account that is easy to withdraw (liquid).

Use: These funds are only for essentials such as job loss, major vehicle damage, or medical emergencies.

4. Take advantage of Technology & Automation

Nowadays, managing money manually is very tiring. Take advantage of technology:

• Automatic debit: Set up automatic deductions to savings or investment accounts as soon as your paycheck comes in.
• Finance Tracker App: Use apps like Money Manager or the budget function in a bank app (like MAE or CIMB Octo) to see where every penny of yours is being spent.

5. Beware of “Lifestyle Inflation”

When your salary increases or you get a bonus in 2026, don’t continue to drastically increase your standard of living.

• If you can afford a more expensive car, ask yourself: “Do I need a new car, or do I just want to look cool?”
• Tips: Maintain your existing lifestyle and invest excess income.

6. Generate Side Income (Side Hustle)

Don’t just rely on one source of income. With the development of AI and the gig economy in 2026, the opportunities to make extra money are huge:

• Digital Skills: Video editing, SEO content writing, or social media management.
• Asset Rental: Rent a spare room through Airbnb or rent a car through a car sharing platform.

7. Review Monthly Subscriptions

Often we don’t realize that RM15 a month for Netflix, RM20 for Spotify, RM40 for the gym, and various other applications can reach hundreds of ringgit.

Action: Cancel rarely used subscriptions. “A little makes a hill” also applies to small expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions New Year’s Resolutions 2026