New Years Resolutions That You Can Actually Stick to  

As the holiday season rolls in, New Year’s resolution lists start coming out, and the promises to do everything differently next year settle in.

But as we’ve done this over and over in the past, we’ve also learned that most of the promises we make, we’re actually unable to keep. So if, for 2026, you’ve decided to fix your sleep schedule for good, here are some easy habits you can start that will actually help, and that are simple enough to stick with!

1. Try tracking your sleep for 30 days.

The best way to know what’s affecting your sleep is by actually being aware of it. Keeping tabs on a few variables you think are impacting your rest can help you spot real correlations and make well-informed decisions about what needs to change.

You can start tracking your sleep by simply taking notes of when you go to bed, when you fall asleep, and any relevant observations. You can also use technology in your favor and let it do all the hard work.

Pillow can help by easily tracking your sleep and giving you all the details without you having to do anything else. All you have to do is turn on the app when you go to bed and let it do the rest! Pillow will provide detailed insights into your sleep quality and duration, overnight vitals, snoring, heart rate, breathing, and much more, so over time, you can spot trends and correlations in your rest.

2. Take a 10-minute wind-down routine every day

When we go to bed still wired from the day, it’s harder to relax and fall asleep. When you take some time to wind down and relax, sleep comes much more easily, helping you achieve better sleep quality. Over time, this can lead to a better disposition, improved focus, and higher overall energy levels.

It’s not meant to be a super productive, 15-step bedtime routine like the ones you see online. Just turn off your phone and relax for a few minutes before falling asleep. You can read, stretch, listen to music, or do any activity you enjoy.

You can also set Pillow to remind you to go to bed 30 minutes before your ideal bedtime, so you know it’s time to start winding down.

3. Gradually shift your bedtime to find your ideal one

One of the best ways to get consistent sleep is to go to bed at the same time every day (yes, that includes weekends). Our bodies love routine and consistency, so the more you give them, the easier it becomes to consistently get good-quality sleep.

If you’ve been going to bed past midnight for years, you won’t suddenly start falling asleep at 21h and waking up at dawn without an alarm. This takes time and consistency. Start shifting your bedtime by 10 to 15 minutes every few days until you reach your ideal schedule.

To help with that, after a few days of tracking, Pillow will start identifying your optimal bedtime based on your sleep quality. This helps you better understand when to go to bed for your ideal sleep

4. Try meditation, but start small

Meditation is a simple yet powerful tool that can help with stress levels, memory, cognition, and, of course, sleep quality.

The great thing about meditation is that it doesn’t require any special tools or investment, you just need to set a few minutes aside and commit to it. If you’ve never meditated before, experiment with short 2- to 5-minute sessions a few times a week and build from there. Don’t strive for perfection; strive for consistency.

You can meditate on your own, but if you’re new to it or want extra support, guided meditations can be excellent aids. Pillow has a wide variety of meditations across multiple themes and lengths to help with that. Just go to the Sleep Aid section and select your favorite meditation!

5. Keep track of your caffeine intake

Caffeine works by blocking your adenosine receptors, which essentially means it blocks your ability to feel tired—this is why it’s such a helpful aid during the day.

However, as the end of the day approaches, we should be winding down instead of keeping our energy levels high. Even if it doesn’t feel like it, that late-afternoon caffeine stays in your system for hours and can still disrupt your rest. You might think you’re sleeping just fine, but your sleep quality may actually be lower.

The first step is becoming aware of how much caffeine you consume and when you have your last cup. After that, try setting a realistic cutoff time and slowly work your way earlier.

Pillow can help you track how these changes impact your sleep by adding a “note” to your session, whether it’s caffeine or other habits. At the end of the month, you can review what had the biggest impact on your sleep

6. Get more steps in, and you don’t have to start big

It’s no secret that exercise is good for our bodies and overall health, but becoming more active can start with simply taking more steps throughout the day.

Moving your body has been proven to improve sleep quality and overall health, and even short walks can make a difference. Try getting up and moving every hour, taking a short walk around the block, or walking instead of driving for short distances. When possible, add more physical activity to your routine.

On Pillow, you can compare your sleep quality with your daily steps to see how movement impacts your rest.

7. Tidy up your bedroom

A cluttered space can increase stress levels and worsen sleep quality by making your environment feel overwhelming. A cluttered or dirty room can also affect air quality, making it harder to breathe comfortably at night.

Start small by opening your windows and making your bed each morning, this will take less than two minutes! Over time, make occasional small changes that help your sleeping space feel calmer and more inviting. Choose one small task each week, like changing a pillow, adjusting the lighting, moving furniture, getting new bedsheets, etc. After a few weeks of doing so, you'll be able to see a big difference!.

Why These Matter

One of the biggest mistakes we make when creating New Year’s resolutions is going about them with an all-or-nothing mentality, but it’s simply not possible to fix years of habits in just a few days, especially without knowing what actually needs to change.

This year, let’s be gentle with ourselves and tackle one small thing at a time. If you’re unsure wether it's even worth it to start small, think about how much progress you would have made by December if you’d done the same small thing consistently throughout 2025.

Let’s make these new habits be the ones that actually stick, so you can finally get that good sleep you’ve always deserved!