Can you believe it’s mid-January already? The “New Year, New Me” Instagram posts are starting to fade, and the initial rush of adrenaline that came with your brand-new 2026 planner might be starting to wane. But here is a secret: the best time to start a resolution isn’t necessarily January 1st, it’s really just the moment you decide you’re ready.

Empowerment and progress should feel like a steady deep breath, not a heavy weight, so this year, we’re ditching the “lose 20 pounds” and “become a millionaire by June” tropes. Instead, we’re focusing on small, sustainable shifts that honor your time, your energy, and your peace. Here are over 50 realistic resolutions tailored for the woman who wants to grow without burning out.

Financial Empowerment & Literacy

Because in this economy, “vibes and insha Allah” can’t be a financial plan:

1. Check your bank balance daily. Stop being afraid of the debit alerts. Stop being afraid of the numbers. Get familiar with your liquidity so you are motivated to foster better financial habits.
2. Automate one small saving. Use apps like PiggyVest or Cowrywise for “set and forget” savings. Your savings will save you, literally.
3. Cancel one ghost subscription. That Apple Music or Netflix you barely watch? Let it go.
4. Follow one Nigerian financial educator. Learn about T-bills, investments and mutual funds.
5. Set a “No-Spend” day once a week. No Bolt, no Food Court, no unplanned sharwama.
6. Read The Smart Money Woman (or re-read it). Arese Ugwu’s gems are timeless.
7. Negotiate one bill. I get the urge to be a ‘big girl’ or the lack of enthusiasm to haggle because it can be stressful, but this year you can lower your expenses by negotiating service charges.
8. Update your CV. Keep it ready in case a better opportunity appears.
9. Allocate a “Fun Budget.” Giving yourself permission to spend guilt-free makes you more disciplined elsewhere.
10. Create a “Black Tax” Boundary. Decide a fixed amount you can send home monthly and stick to it.
11. Start a “Dollar” or “Euro” savings pot. Protect your money from devaluation.
12. Audit your Asoebi spending. It is okay to say “I’ll support from home” if the fabric is 250k.

Career & Productivity

This year, learn to move smart and define success on terms that are meaningful to you.

1. Close all your tabs at the end of the day.
2. Set a “Hard Stop” time for work. No work calls after 7:00 PM.
3. Take a real lunch break. Yes, even if you’re working from home in your pajamas.
4. Update your LinkedIn profile. Use a clear, professional photo. Let your bio reflect the current state of your professional life. Try and interact more with other LinkedIn users in your field.
5. Ask for feedback once a month. From your manager, work peer or a friend in the same field as you
6. Find a “Work Bestie.” Someone who understands the struggle of “The meeting could have been an email.”
7. Find a “Work Mentor.” Someone who will teach you and speak your name in rooms you cannot ordinarily enter.
8. Invest in a reliable power backup. In this Nigeria, even a high-capacity power bank counts as a career investment.
9. Attend one physical networking event in your city. Trust us, best “connects” still happen offline.
10. Organize your Google Drive. No more searching for “Untitled Document 12.”

Mindset & Mental Wellness

Protecting your peace shouldn’t even be a new year resolution. It should be an everyday given.

1. Unfollow accounts that make you feel “less than.” 
2. Journal for five minutes once a week.
3. Compliment yourself in the mirror once a day.
4. Limit your news intake. The headlines can be heavy; 30 minutes a day is enough (if you must)
5. Learn to say “Let me think about that” instead of an immediate “Yes.”
6. Forgive yourself for a mistake you made last year. Yes, that one that makes you cringe and regret so hard.
7. Start a “Done” list. Celebrate what you actually achieved, not just what’s left.
8. Stop explaining your life choices to extended family. Your sexuality, marital status or career path is not a debate.
9. Stop saying “I’m sorry” when you’re actually asking a question.
10. Book a therapy session. Mental health is health. Platforms like Mentally Aware Nigeria make it accessible.
11. Reject the “Strong Black Woman” narrative. It’s okay to be tired and ask for help. It’s okay to be a ‘soft’ woman. It’s okay to want ease. It’s okay if you don’t want to do it the hard way.

Health & Gentle Movement

Good health is a blessing, we tend to forget this when we have it

1. Drink one extra glass of water today.
2. Take the stairs instead of the elevator once a day.
3. Stretch for five minutes before bed.
4. Incorporate one extra vegetable into your dinner.
5. Go for a 15-minute walk without your phone.
6. Try a new healthy recipe once a month. (Ever tried cauliflower swallow?).
7. Get eight hours of sleep at least four nights a week.
8. Wear sunscreen every single day.
9. Schedule that dentist or “Woman’s Wellness” check-up.
10. Check your blood pressure once a quarter. You might look and feel healthy, right? But still check! There’s so many stories of young people who looked fine one second, dropping dead the next because of High Blood Pressure.
11. Swap one soda a day for zobo/fruit juice/tiger nut (with less sugar) or water.
12. Wash your makeup brushes once a week. Your skin will thank you.

Relationships & Community

2026 is all about building a tribe that sustains and empowers you.

1. Call one friend a week instead of just texting.
2. Send a “thinking of you” message to your ‘low-maintenance friend. Maybe this year the friendship status will get an upgrade?
3. Host a low-pressure potluck. Everyone brings one dish, no one spends a fortune.
4. Volunteer for at least two hours once a quarter.
5. Practice active listening. Put the phone face down when someone is talking to you.
6. Write one handwritten thank-you note this year.
7. Support a local, women-owned business. Preferably. a woman you know.
8. Learn the names of your neighbors/security men. Community starts with “Good morning.”
9. Compliment a stranger’s hair or outfit.
10. Stop ghosting and start communicating. Even a “I’m overwhelmed, can we talk later?” is better.
11. Attend a traditional event (like a New Yam festival or Masquerades dance) just to learn and observe culture.
12. Mentor a younger girl. Even if it’s just one hour of advice over coffee.

Creativity & Joy

Nurture your inner child and reconnect with the younger girl you used to be. Don’t let the troubles of adulthood rob you of your magic.

1. Read at least 6 books this year.
2. Start a hobby where you’re allowed to be “bad” at it. Don’t try to monetize it. Just have fun learning a new thing. You can even be bad at it.
3. Listen to a new podcast genre.
4. Take one “Solo Date” per month. Go to the Nike Art Gallery or a quiet cafe alone.
5. Expand your vocabulary. Learn three phrases in a Nigerian language that isn’t your own. Download DuoLingo and learn a new language.
6. Take more photos of yourself where you aren’t “posing.” Capture the real joy and don’t be shy to post it.
7. Create a hype playlist. Fill it with Afrobeats that make you feel like a boss.
8. Spend 10 minutes a day doing absolutely nothing. No phone, no music, just existing.

How to Make These Resolutions Stick

The reason most resolutions fail is that we try to do too much at once. To make 2026 your most successful year yet, use the 1-3-5 Rule:

Pick 1 “big” habit to change (e.g., your visibility on LinkedIn). Choose 3 “medium” goals (e.g., monthly savings, one book a month, checking BP). Add 5 “tiny” wins (e.g., daily sunscreen, closing tabs, drinking water).

Remember, progress isn’t linear. Honestly slow and steady wins the race. Try and show up everyday and if you miss a day, don’t throw away the whole year. Just start again tomorrow. You’ve got this!