New Year Challenges: 50+ Daily & Weekly Challenge Ideas

Instead of resolutions, try one of these new year challenges.

While there’s nothing wrong with making New Year resolutions, some people find more success with New Years Challenges. The main difference between a resolution and a challenge (at least as I see it) is specificity — a resolution to “get in shape” is overly vague, while a daily challenge to walk 10,000 steps is specific and accomplishable.

The start of a new year is the perfect time to kick off a daily or weekly challenge. Imagine a year from now being able to say that you did something every day for a whole year! If you’re not ready to commit to a whole year, use the daily challenges to inspire your own 30-day new year challenge ideas, or keep scrolling to explore monthly challenges.

Whether you’re looking to improve your health, review your diet, get healthier, improve your relationships, or improve yourself, these new year challenge ideas will help you conquer your goals. Imagine what you what you could achieve by next January — and what you could have to celebrate!

New Year Challenge Ideas

Try a 30-day new year challenge, like getting outside every day, putting a few dollars away, or even making your bed every day.

Daily Challenges & 30-Day Challenges

Any of these daily challenges would work as a 30-day challenge. You could even pick several challenges to take on back-to-back and transform your life throughout the year!

Document the year by taking a photo every day.
Follow daily photo prompts (such as those from Project Life 365) and take a suitable photo for each day’s prompt.
Take a photo of something that you’re grateful for every day.
Write in a journal every day and reflect on your day and goals.
Write one page of a novel every day — you’ll make great progress!
Write one blog post every day for a year.
Walk 10,000 steps every day — think of all the calories you’ll burn!)
Go for a walk every day for a year to improve your fitness.
Create a spending plan, then track your spending every day to make sure you’re sticking to it.
Drink 8 glasses of water every day for a year.
Do oil pulling every day (after learning about the benefits of oil pulling).
Do dry brushing every day (after learning about the benefits of dry brushing).
Commit to cooking one homemade meal every day (or every week).
Floss daily for a year.
Eat breakfast every day for a year.
Eat a lunch you brought from home every day for a year.
Practice the piano (or your instrument of choice) for thirty minutes per day, every day.
Read a new poem every day, and write down your thoughts about each one.
Write a poem every day for a year.
Read from your scriptures every day for a year.
Look up a new word in the dictionary every day to boost your vocabulary.
Start a gratitude journal and write down one thing you’re thankful for every day.
For the artistically inclined, draw a new sketch every day for a year.
If you don’t draw, choose a theme and make something creative every day for a year.
Meditate for 10 minutes every day.
Talk to someone new every day for a year.
Do a Random Act of Kindness every day.
Make your bed every day for a year.
Spend 10 minutes tidying up a different room in your home.
Organize and declutter by disposing of, recycling, or donating one item a day for a year.
Read your child a bedtime story.
Wake up at the same time every day.
Go to bed at the same time every day.
Shut off your electronics half an hour before you go to bed every day for a year.
Eat three servings of fruit and five servings of vegetables every day for a year.
Make yourself a cup of tea every day (whether for the break or the health benefits!)
Make a list of 20 little activities you enjoy doing, and set a goal to do at least one of those things every day in 2025.
Spend 5 minutes in the garden every day, whether pulling weeds or just enjoying the plants.
If you have a baby or grand-baby, take a photo of them every day — you’ll be amazed at the change!
Want to make or break a habit? Commit to at least 21 calendar days of taking the stairs, ditching cigarettes, or otherwise working to make or break a habit.
Learn to code by taking on a 100-day coding challenge.
Give someone a compliment every day for a year.
Put an encouraging note in your kids’ lunch boxes every school day.

Accept a weekly new year challenge like meeting with friends once a week, writing a note once a week, or reading a new book every week.

Weekly Challenges

Make a new recipe every week for a year.
Try something new by cooking with a new ingredient every week.
Eat only vegetarian meals one day every week for a year.
Write a love note to your significant other every week and leave it somewhere it will surprise them.
Go somewhere that you’ve never been in your area (buildings, shops, parks, etc.) every week for a year.
Meet up for coffee or lunch with a friend or relative every week.
Call a long distant friend or family member every week for a year.
Do a fun activity with your family every week for a year.
Have a family dinner at least once a week with everyone at the table together.
Take a self portrait every week for a year.
Organize, decorate, or spruce up some area in your home every week for a year.
Put some amount of money ($5, $10, $25, $50 — whatever you can afford!) into your savings account every week.
Watch one movie you haven’t seen every week.
Write a handwritten thank-you note to someone once a week for a year.
Read (or listen to) one new book per week.
Create your own new year fitness challenge by doing a workout of your choosing every week. There are plenty of free workout and yoga videos you can find online, and the workouts don’t have to be super long!
Make time for an outdoor adventure every week — it would be an ideal time for practicing mindfulness, which can help you to improve your mood.

Almost anything you may want to accomplish in the next year can be turned into a daily, weekly, or 30 day challenge. If you do decide to take on such a challenge instead of a New Year’s resolution, here are a few extra tips that will give you the best chance of succeeding:

Choose a project or goal that’s important to you so you’re less likely to lose steam and quit before you finish.
Choose attainable goals — no amount of determination will help you do the impossible!
Track your progress and hold yourself accountable — the printable Challenge Charts below can help!