New Year's Resolutions

Every year during New Year's, people come up with resolutions that they promise to follow through with. Whether it’s eating better, working out more, or drinking water, New Year's resolutions seem to never last past January. Everyone is thinking “new year, new me,” but who actually completes this idea? Statistics state that only 48% of people who set resolutions, complete them. 

Do people set New Year's resolutions to start off the new year with good habits… or do people set them because it seems like a norm that they should also do? Dr. Thomas MacCarty, Dean of Social Science at Southern New Hampshire University, stated that most set new goals for the new year because “they feel awkward if they don't take part in this societal tradition.” This idea shows that resolutions often aren’t based on actually wanting personal growth, but rather fitting in with the general society. 

Another reason resolutions tend to fall short is because most set specific enough goals that deep down they know aren’t achievable. Promising yourself to “get in better shape” or “eat better” is motivating, but with no plan on how to complete these goals, they become difficult to maintain. On that note, when people don’t see progress immediately, they tend to become discouraged and ultimately quit. According to research from the University of Scranton, almost 80 percent of resolutions set for the New Year tend to fail by February. This statistic shows how common it is for people to abandon their goals so quickly after the new year excitement. 

Motivation also plays a huge role in whether resolutions fail or succeed. At the start of the new year, people are hopeful and excited to actually follow through with their resolutions. But over time, that feeling slowly fades out as the year continues. 

All of this does not mean New Year's resolutions are completely useless. Studies show that when people set realistic goals, hold themselves accountable, and make small changes to their day to day life, their goals are more likely to succeed. Making a goal that maybe you know is unreachable will damage your chances of following through with your goals. 

In the end, most resolutions don’t succeed, not because oftentimes people feel incapable of the changes they want to make, but because goals are made rushed, unrealistic, or they are socially driven. Actual change doesn’t need to happen on the 1st of January. Resolutions can happen over time as long as you continue to stay motivated.