Every January, we tell ourselves a familiar story: This year will be different. We’ll eat better, move more, manage stress, sleep properly—the list varies depending on what our lives need most. Yet many find their initial plans don’t hold up past February. The challenge isn’t a lack of discipline or willpower, but a mismatch between the goal and the method.

The Role of Human-Centred Design in Resolutions

“We often set ambitious, all-or-nothing goals and then feel frustrated when they clash with our complex, ever-changing lives,” explains Gadija Petersen, a Programme Lead at the Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika at the University of Cape Town. “Most people pick a bold outcome and expect transformation to happen overnight. But what if, instead of forcing rigid routines on ourselves, we approached personal change like designers approach solutions—with curiosity, flexibility, and iterative experimentation? Our personal growth deserves the same creative, iterative process.”

Reframing the Question

Rather than asking, “Why can’t I stick to my goals?” Petersen suggests a more productive question: “Am I solving the right problem in the first place?” Many people approach behaviour change as if there’s one correct answer. However, our lives and contexts constantly shift, which is why rigid, one-size-fits-all plans tend to fracture under pressure.

A Five-Step Process for Designing Sustainable Change

To create habits that sustain well beyond January, Petersen offers a practical framework rooted in the core principles of Design Thinking. Here’s a five-step process you can apply:

  1. Empathise: What do I really need? Before setting a goal like “exercise more,” ask why. Is the deeper need to reduce anxiety, have more energy for your kids, or improve sleep?
  2. Define: What problem am I actually solving? Rather than vague aspirations, reframe them into clear, actionable problem statements.
  3. Ideate: What are all the possible ways I could address this? Generate multiple options instead of one perfect plan to reduce pressure.
  4. Prototype: Can I test this before I fully commit? Rather than overhauling your entire life on January 1, run small experiments.
  5. Iterate: What did I learn, and what needs adjusting? Review your prototypes regularly to refine your approach.

From Setback to Signal

This iterative approach changes how we interpret our behaviour. Instead of judging ourselves when something doesn’t work, we can treat it as valuable information. “In Design Thinking, when a prototype doesn’t perform as expected, we get curious about why,” explains Petersen. Missing a workout becomes feedback, not failure. It’s an ongoing conversation with yourself, not a test you pass or fail.