Most of us make resolutions to ourselves every year. Sometimes it is just a thought we carry as a direction for the year ahead. Sometimes it is a detailed list of goals and plans. Everyone does it differently. We do it because we believe that in a new year, things can start over. That we can start over, too.

We promise to be better, braver, more focused, more successful or simply kinder to ourselves. Sometimes the promises are big and ambitious; sometimes they are softer, but no less important.

This year, we asked Sandy’s friends what promises they are carrying into the New Year. Here is what they shared.

Multidisciplinary/interior architect

This year, I didn’t make any new promises to myself. I realised that every year I overwhelm myself with goals, believing everything has to change overnight, and most of the time, that pressure does more harm than good.

Instead, I promised myself to keep working hard, but slowly step by step, with intention and consistency. To spend more time with my loved ones and family, to stop stressing, and to let go of the constant feeling of FOMO, the need to be everywhere, doing everything, all at once.

This year is about slowing down enough to actually feel the days as they pass, to enjoy the process instead of racing through it. I promised myself to take care of my mental health more than I ever have before, to be present for the people I love, to provide for them, and still kick ass, just at my own pace.

And yes, finally bringing @1144byb to life is very much part of that promise.

DJ

On a more human level, what I promised myself this year is to prioritise myself. I am usually a people-pleaser and tend to put others first. I prioritise people, I prioritise my career — sometimes even over my health. I take gigs that aren’t always aligned with who I am. So, more often than not, I put others above myself.

This year, I promised to prioritise my own needs above all else.

On a career level, I promised myself that I would do more DJ workshops and build a bigger community through them. I also want to bring back more of the pop-ups I used to do about a year ago, because that sense of community really matters to me. I find it really special — and I am enjoying it more than ever.

Another promise I made to myself, also career-wise, is to put myself out there more — especially when it comes to playing different genres, specifically hip hop. I’ve always loved hip hop, but I was scared of what people might say. My name doesn’t usually ring a bell for hip hop when you see it on a lineup, and that fear held me back.

But when I played hip hop at Soul DXB, it was insane — one of my favourite sets I’ve ever played. It reignited my love for the genre and reminded me that I am actually good at it. I just need to get out there and not be scared because it is something new.

Artist

This year, I am not making promises; I am making agreements with myself. Agreements to move more slowly, to listen more carefully, and to choose what feels nourishing rather than what feels urgent. To protect my energy, my body, and my creativity, and to create from a place of presence instead of pressure.

I am allowing myself to trust timing more, to let things unfold without forcing outcomes, and to honour the seasons of my life. To stay close to what feels honest and grounding, to work with intention, and to build a life and practice that feel sustainable, emotionally and creatively.

If I am making any promise at all, it is to myself: to remain soft without losing strength, to stay curious, and to let joy, rest, and meaning guide the way forward.

Founder of Burgers & Hoodies

I have never waited for December to make promises to myself. I usually start a little earlier, giving myself the space to adapt and enter the new year with clarity rather than pressure. This year, my first promise was to truly prioritise my health, both physical and mental, and to build everything else around that foundation.

My second promise is to be more present with my family. I have always been close to them, but with time, you realise how rare and irreplaceable those moments are. Nothing compares to simply being there.

Lastly, a promise I have been working toward for the past five years: continuing to grow Burgers and Hoodies. Not just as a brand, but as a culture, one that creates impact and offers a healthy, inspiring environment for my team to grow alongside me.

Artist

At the beginning of this year, I did something very special with my sister. She is an incredible jewelry designer, and I asked her to make me a ring — my promise ring.

It is a symbol of commitment to myself, and it carries three vows:

— to always protect my peace, my energy, and my family;

— to celebrate my wins;

— and to never stop chasing my dreams.

Curator and Director at Firetti Contemporary

This year, for the first time, I actually didn’t sit down and make any specific resolutions. I just told myself that I am going to keep growing, keep learning, and leave the past behind.

This year as a whole came with a lot of lessons, and now I’ve found the love of my life. I am about to start a new chapter, a new life, and I am really looking forward to it. I think the ultimate goal is just to continue bettering myself and to live a sustainable, balanced lifestyle.

I used to write my resolutions every single year. But this year, I just said to myself: I am happy with where things are going. I trust the process. I want to continue working on myself, on achieving inner peace, on my relationships with the people I love — and on cutting out things that aren’t good for me, whether that is friendships, toxic family members, anything like that — out. Out with the old, in with the new.