Verywell / Joshua Seong
The start of a new year is the perfect time to turn a new page, which is probably why so many people make New Year’s resolutions. The new year often feels like a fresh start and a great opportunity to change bad habits and establish new routines that will help you grow psychologically, emotionally, socially, physically, or intellectually.
Of course, resolutions are much easier to make than to keep, and by the end of March, many of us have abandoned our resolve and settled back into our old patterns. Part of the problem may be that we do not know how to keep New Year’s resolutions, despite our good intentions.
Why We Make Resolutions
Why do millions of people resolve to change at the start of each year? Studies on the “fresh start effect” show that temporal landmarks can motivate aspirational behaviors.
The new year feels like a fresh beginning, so many people set ambitious resolutions. While this can lead to overcommitting, pursuing resolutions presents opportunities to build willpower, determination, and creativity.
The success rates of resolutions vary. In one study, only about 12% of people who made New Year’s resolutions felt they achieved their goals. Some common resolutions include:
While many people feel that they don’t achieve their resolution goals, one study showed that those who set New Year’s resolutions are 10 times more likely to actually change their behavior than people who don’t make these yearly goals.
So how long do resolutions last? While most surveys suggest that the majority of people don’t stick with their New Year’s resolutions for long, one 2020 study found that 55% of participants considered themselves successful at sustaining resolutions after a year.
In that study, researchers found that people were more successful at keeping approach-oriented goals (such as changing eating or sleeping habits) than avoidance-oriented ones (motivated by a desire to avoid something).
Even if resolutions don’t always stick, that doesn’t mean that resolutions aren’t worth making. One survey conducted by YouGov found that people who planned to make New Year’s resolutions were more optimistic about the future.
So, what can you do to make it more likely that you will keep your next resolution? The following tips may help you beat the odds.
A Word From Verywell
The yearly ritual of resolution setting doesn’t have to be an annual disappointment. Sometimes, the difference between success and failure is simply choosing the right goal and the process you use to go about achieving it. Most importantly, remember to be kind and flexible with yourself and to celebrate any and all progress along the way. It’s not just the end goal that matters—it’s the journey along the way.
