New Year’s resolutions often sound like a great idea: surf more, improve your fitness, or finally nail that perfect cutback. But how many times have we set ambitious goals in January, only to see them fade by the time the first flat spell rolls in? The truth is that resolutions rarely work.
Research shows that up to 80% of resolutions fail by February, leaving us frustrated and disappointed. They’re often too rigid or disconnected from what truly matters to us. Worse, they can create unnecessary pressure, turning the start of the year into a stress-fueled sprint.
For surfers, there’s a better way to approach the year ahead—one that flows more like the ocean and aligns with the rhythm of life. Instead of resolutions, start with values.
Why Resolutions Don’t Work
The problem with resolutions is that they focus on outcomes, not intentions. You might resolve to surf every day, but what happens when the swell isn’t cooperating, or life gets in the way? When resolutions fail, we lose trust in ourselves because we didn’t follow through on a commitment. Confidence is trust in oneself, and this is built in tiny increments—just as when we build a trusting relationship with someone.
Instead of chasing rigid goals, starting with your values ensures your focus is on what’s most important—things like freedom, connection, and growth. Values are flexible and enduring, providing a compass for your actions, whether the surf’s firing or it’s completely flat.
Start with Your Core Values
For surfers, surfing is an activity that we care about deeply, but why do you surf? Is it the feeling of freedom as you glide down the line? The health benefits of exercise? The stoke of catching a perfect wave? Or maybe it’s the adventure of chasing swells, the satisfaction of mastery, or the camaraderie of sharing the lineup with friends.
It could be a combination of these. Understanding the values that draw you to surfing can help you bring those same principles into other areas of your life. If you value freedom, how can you create more freedom in your work or relationships? If adventure excites you in the ocean, how can you add more exploration to your daily life?
Your values in surfing can become your compass for living with purpose and balance.
Here’s how to uncover your core values, inspired by our founder, Brad Hook’s, new book Start With Values:
1. Reflect on Your Best Surf Sessions
Think back to those magical surf days—when you felt in perfect flow, fully alive, and at one with the waves. What values were at play during those moments? Was it freedom, harmony, courage, or something else?
2. Look at Life Beyond Surfing
Surfing is a big part of your life, but your values extend beyond the lineup. What truly matters in your relationships, work, and how you spend your time? Which values guide your decisions and make life meaningful?
3. Choose Your Top 3-5 Values
Keep it simple. Identify 3-5 core values that resonate most with you. These should be principles that feel essential to who you are and how you want to live—whether you’re paddling out or navigating the complexities of daily life. This article can help you.
Hear why Brad wrote the book here:
Create Micro-Habits That Support Your Values
Once you’ve identified your values, the next step is to align your actions with them. Instead of setting big, stressful resolutions, create micro-habits that reflect your values.
For example:
If your value is Growth:
• Micro-habit: Try a new break once a month.
• Micro-habit: Spend 10 minutes watching surf technique videos to improve your skills.
If your value is Connection:
• Micro-habit: Surf with a friend every week.
• Micro-habit: Introduce yourself to someone new in the lineup.
If your value is Freedom:
• Micro-habit: Block out one morning a week for an unplanned surf trip.
• Micro-habit: Practice mindfulness in the water—focus on being present with each wave.
These small, consistent actions build momentum and help you live in alignment with your values, whether it’s a pumping swell or a quiet, glassy morning.
How Values Increase Resilience for Surfers
Living by your values not only enriches your surfing—it also makes you more resilient. Here’s how:
1. Clarity in the Chaos:
When conditions (in surfing or life) get unpredictable, your values provide a steady guide. They help you prioritize what matters most, even when the swell isn’t what you hoped for.
2. Confidence Through Consistency:
Acting on your values builds self-trust. When you keep small promises to yourself—like paddling out even on tough days—you strengthen your confidence.
3. Deeper Connection:
Values remind you of the bigger picture—how surfing connects you to the ocean, to others, and to something greater than yourself.
Flow Like the Ocean
The ocean teaches us that nothing is permanent—swell comes and goes, waves rise and fall. By starting the year with values instead of resolutions, you’re embracing the rhythm of life and creating a foundation that supports you no matter what conditions you face.
This year, ask yourself: What matters most? Use your values as a compass, and let them guide not just your surfing, but every aspect of your life.
The waves will come. The key is to show up ready to ride them with purpose, flow, and resilience.
