Avoiding the Trap of Too Many Resolutions: The Case for Purposeful Postponement
Strategic delays can sharpen focus and set you up for success.
As the New Year approaches, rethink the impulse to overcommit. Knowing what to postpone can make all the difference in achieving what truly matters.
The week between Christmas and New Year’s can feel like a liminal space—a time when the year ahead stretches out with possibility, and it’s easy to be swept up in the allure of setting ambitious resolutions. Maybe you’re reflecting on the career goals you want to achieve, the relationships you hope to deepen, or the hobbies you’d like to explore. It’s tempting to say yes to everything.
But before you fill your planner with dozens of resolutions, consider this: trying to tackle too much at once can leave you spread thin and overwhelmed by mid-February. Instead, this might be the year to embrace purposeful postponement—a strategy of deliberately delaying certain goals to give your full attention to the ones that matter most right now.
What Is Purposeful Postponement?
As far as I can tell, the term “purposeful postponement” first appeared in a Time magazine essay from the early 1970s called The Fine Art of Putting Things Off—written by Michael Demarest. The essay described the idea of strategically delaying certain tasks to prioritize more pressing matters. In the context of personal goals, it means choosing what not to pursue this year to focus on the goals that will have the most immediate impact.
The key is intention. Purposeful postponement isn’t procrastination—it’s about identifying which goals can wait and allowing yourself the time and space to fully commit to the ones that can’t.
Why You Should Limit Your Resolutions This Year
When you set resolutions, you’re often planning for a future version of yourself. That future you might have different priorities, resources, or opportunities than you do today. Tackling too many goals at once can create distractions or lead to decisions that might feel irrelevant—or even counterproductive—when the time comes to act.
For example:
Career Changes: If you know you won’t switch jobs until mid-2025, straining to start the process now could waste time and lead to frustration. Instead, this year could be about learning new skills or networking with intention.
Major Purchases: If buying a home is two years away, setting a goal to finalize a neighborhood or home style this year might be premature. Focus instead on saving or improving your financial position.
Big Fitness Goals: Maybe you’ve always wanted to run a marathon, but this year’s schedule is packed. Instead of committing to the full race, consider training for a 10K or focusing on strength and mobility work to prepare for next year.
By paring down your resolutions, you give yourself permission to go all-in on a few key priorities.
How Purposeful Postponement Can Improve Your Year
Choosing what not to pursue doesn’t mean giving up. It’s about creating a structure where your energy is focused, your stress is reduced, and your efforts align with your values.
Here’s how purposeful postponement can make a difference:
Sharper Focus: Fewer goals mean more time and energy to dedicate to the ones that matter most.
Stress Reduction: Letting go of unnecessary pressure can free you to enjoy the process rather than feeling overwhelmed.
Improved Timing: Delaying certain goals ensures you’ll tackle them when you have the resources and clarity to succeed.
A New Year’s Resolution That Respects Your Capacity
Imagine this scenario: over the holidays, you spent time with your kids, reconnected with friends, or rediscovered a creative hobby like ceramics. Maybe you realized you want more moments like that, but your busy work schedule makes it hard to prioritize them. Instead of resolving to “do it all” this year, purposeful postponement invites you to say, What can I let go of to create space for what matters most?
That could mean delaying a career pivot to focus on spending time with family. It might mean putting off a big savings goal so you can take a much-needed sabbatical. It could even mean deciding that this is the year to focus on just one personal growth area—whether that’s fitness, creative pursuits, or strengthening relationships.
How to Practice Purposeful Postponement
Here’s a framework to guide your planning:
Reflect on Your Goals: Take inventory of everything you’d like to achieve.
Identify What Can Wait: Ask yourself: Does this goal need to happen this year, or would delaying it make more sense?
Prioritize for Impact: Focus on the goals that align most closely with your values and current circumstances.
Set Review Dates: For postponed goals, schedule times to revisit them and assess their relevance.
Create Accountability: Share your goals with a trusted friend or mentor to stay on track.
The Hidden Power of Saying “Not Yet”
The beauty of purposeful postponement is that it creates space for what really matters. By saying “not yet” to some goals, you allow yourself to approach the ones you do pursue with clarity and intention.
This year, as you write your resolutions, resist the urge to overfill the page. Focus on what will make the biggest difference in your life right now—and let the rest wait.
