Can New Years Resolutions be Successful?

Every year, many people will commit to a resolution to improve their grades, be more active, or find a new hobby - but, in many cases, they end up being unsuccessful, and eventually forgotten about until the next year, when the cycle repeats. Since the recent arrival of 2026, it is likely that many people will set up goals they plan to achieve this year, but will soon give up in just a few months.

According to the Pew Research Center, around 28% of adults who have made resolutions have only kept some of them, while 13% of them kept none of them. Compared to the 59% of adults who have kept their goals, 41% struggle and end up dropping them through the new year.

But what makes these resolutions so hard to maintain? A study from verywellmind.com suggests people are just thinking too big. According to Cynthia Vinney, PhD, “They often involve huge changes like changing out eating habits, getting more sleep, or becoming fluent in a new language.”  This means that these changes are something that would usually take months to successfully achieve, which while desired by many, is difficult to attain depending on your approach.

This is one of the reasons why some people have completely dropped the idea of resolutions. When asked if she had a New Year’s Resolution, Junior Alisha Patel said she did not: “I haven’t done any this year because they’re hard to maintain with a busy schedule,” she said. Patel is a member of the Chess Club and Track team. “I actually never upheld them because I never have the time to do them,” she said.

Senior Lyla Sacchetti has tried to uphold a resolution, but it did not work out. “I think New Year’s Resolutions can work sometimes.” Sacchetti said. “I had one, but I didn’t stick to it.” Students seem to either struggle with or outright reject having a resolution. Students are already busy with studying, extracurricular activities, and searching for higher education, so the idea of piling on a resolution to complete year-round may not appeal to some.

What many people struggle with when trying to keep their resolutions is adapting to such a significant change in their lifestyle. For example, if someone’s resolution was simply to lose weight, that would include limiting junk food, prioritizing whole foods, exercising, getting enough sleep, and a myriad of other lifestyle changes, not to mention having to implement this idea into an already existing routine, which may include work or other hobbies. With such a broad idea, not knowing how to implement this change into their life might become too overwhelming without proper planning and taking smaller steps to achieve it.

AP U.S. History Teacher Robert Porrino had a more realistic approach to his goals. “I tend to do fitness resolutions, and I usually achieve them. Mine was to have a better diet,” he said. He has been making smaller improvements to his lifestyle, which include his eating habits. “One year I did the Keto diet and it lasted two years.” While New Year’s resolutions are of course not for everyone, some people may find that setting a single, more realistic goal for the future can make significant progress for their overall health and happiness.

Works Cited

Gracia, Shanay. “New Year’s Resolutions: Who Makes Them and Why.” Pew Research Center, 29 Jan. 2024, www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/01/29/new-years-resolutions-who-makes-them-and-why/.

Vinney, Cynthia. “The Psychology behind Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail.” Verywell Mind, 1 Jan. 2024, www.verywellmind.com/why-new-years-resolutions-fail-6823972.