We all have things we want to improve about ourselves and January always seems like the perfect time to identify those things we want to change and make a plan to do so. But let's be real – how many of us actually stick with our New Year's resolutions past January?

This year, I'm trying something different. Instead of creating a long list of resolutions that I'll probably abandon by February, I'm focusing on building one habit per month. That's it. Just one habit, practiced consistently for 30 days, before moving on to the next.

Why One Habit Per Month?

Research shows that it takes about 21-66 days to form a new habit (with the average being around 66 days). By focusing on just one habit per month, I'm giving myself the time and mental space to really establish that behavior before adding something new.

Plus, it's so much less overwhelming! Instead of trying to overhaul my entire life in January, I can focus all my energy on mastering one thing at a time.

January Habit: Budgeting

For January, I'm focusing on budgeting. Specifically, I'm committing to:

• Tracking every single expense throughout the month
• Staying within predetermined budget categories
• Doing a weekly check-in on my spending
• Saving a specific amount each month

I've tried budgeting before, but I've never been consistent with it. This month, I'm treating it like the most important project of my day. Every evening, I sit down and log my expenses. Every Sunday, I review how I'm tracking toward my goals.

Looking Ahead

I already have ideas for future months: meditation in February, regular exercise in March, better sleep habits in April, and so on. But I'm not getting ahead of myself. Right now, it's all about January and budgeting.

I'll be sharing monthly updates on how each habit is going, what I'm learning, and any tips that help me stay consistent. I hope you'll follow along and maybe even join me in building some new habits of your own!

What habits are you hoping to build this year? Let me know in the comments!