New Year. New You. New Year’s Resolutions You’ll Actually Want to Keep
The start of a new year always brings a surge of motivation. New goals. Fresh energy. Big dreams for the season ahead.
But by mid-January, many New Year’s resolutions fade—especially when life, school, work, and busy hockey schedules take over.
The difference between resolutions that stick and ones that don’t?
They’re specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound, and built into your routine. In other words, if you’re making SMART goals, you’re more likely to follow through.
This year, instead of vague goals like “get better at hockey,” focus on resolutions that are actionable, measurable, and designed to keep you consistent all season long. Here are hockey-focused New Year’s resolutions you’ll actually want—and be able—to keep.
1. Commit to Short, Consistent Training Sessions
One of the biggest mistakes players make is thinking training needs to be long to be effective. In reality, consistency beats intensity every time.
Resolution:
Train 20–30 minutes, 4–5 times per week.
Short sessions are:
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Easier to fit into busy schedules
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Less mentally overwhelming
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More sustainable long term
Training Tip
Break your sessions into simple blocks:
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10 minutes stickhandling
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10 minutes shooting or passing
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5–10 minutes reaction or puck control
This approach keeps training focused and prevents burnout—especially during the school year or busy parts of the season.
2. Train With Purpose, Not Just Reps
Mindlessly repeating drills won’t lead to meaningful improvement. Players who see the most growth train with intention.
Resolution:
Know exactly what you’re working on before every session.
Ask yourself:
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What skill do I want to improve today?
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What game situation does this drill apply to?
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Am I pushing my comfort zone?
Training Tip
Choose one primary focus per session—for example:
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Faster hands under pressure
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Quicker puck control in tight spaces
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Improving release speed
Using tools like the DangleElite app can help guide purposeful training by tracking sessions, following structured challenges, and keeping your workouts game-relevant.
3. Track Your Progress (Even When It Feels Small)
Progress isn’t always obvious day to day—but it adds up fast when you track it.
Resolution:
Keep a record of your training.
This could be:
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A notebook or training journal
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Notes on your phone
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Logging training sessions in an app like DangleElite
Why This Works
Tracking helps you:
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Stay accountable
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Recognize improvement over time
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Identify what’s working (and what’s not)
Training Tip
At the end of each session, write down:
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One thing you did well
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One thing you want to improve next time
This habit takes less than two minutes but can completely change how intentional your training becomes.
4. Make Skill Development a Year-Round Priority
Many players train hard during the season… and then lose momentum in the off-season—or only train in short bursts.
Resolution:
Commit to year-round skill development.
That doesn’t mean training at full intensity all year long. It means:
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Maintaining stickhandling during the season
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Building habits in the off-season
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Staying sharp during breaks and holidays
Training Tip
Create different training modes:
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In-season: Short, maintenance-focused sessions
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Off-season: Skill development and strength building
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Breaks: Fun challenges, reaction drills, and creativity
Keeping training fresh helps avoid burnout and keeps your skills progressing all year.
5. Add an Accountability Partner
Training alone builds discipline—but training with accountability builds consistency.
Resolution:
Have someone who keeps you accountable.
This could be:
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A teammate
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A sibling or parent
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A friend working toward similar goals
Training Tip
Set a shared goal, like:
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Training 4 times per week
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Completing a DangleElite challenge together
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Checking in weekly to share progress
Knowing someone else is counting on you makes it much harder to skip sessions—especially on low-motivation days.
6. Focus on What You Can Control
Hockey has a lot of variables you can’t control—ice time, lineup decisions, bounces, or officiating. The players who grow the most focus on what is within their control.
Resolution:
Control effort, preparation, and mindset.
That means:
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Showing up ready to work
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Practicing with purpose
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Keeping a growth mindset during setbacks
Training Tip
When something doesn’t go your way, ask:
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What can I learn from this?
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What can I improve next practice?
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How can I respond better next time?
This mindset shift builds mental toughness that translates directly to on-ice performance.
7. Make Training Enjoyable
If training feels like a chore, it won’t last.
Resolution:
Find ways to make skill development fun.
That might look like:
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Turning drills into challenges
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Competing against your own best scores
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Mixing up drills and training tools
Training Tip
Gamify your workouts:
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Time yourself
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Count clean reps
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Track streaks (how many days in a row you train)
Apps like DangleElite are designed to make training engaging, competitive, and motivating—helping players stay excited about improving.
Final Thoughts: Build Habits, Not Just Goals
New Year’s resolutions don’t fail because players don’t care—they fail because they’re too vague or unrealistic.
This year, focus on:
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Small, consistent habits
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Purposeful training
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Tracking progress
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Accountability and mindset
When you commit to the process—not just the outcome—you’ll build skills that last far beyond January.
New year. New habits. New level of confidence on the ice.
Here’s to a season of consistency, growth, and real results. 🏒💪
