Can you remember the first day of 2025? Full of hope, wonder, and excitement for all the ways you were going to change your habits, your relationships, and your reality. Now, picture yourself two weeks into the new year. At that point, could you even pinpoint what your resolutions had been on January 1?
The truth is, for many of us, New Year’s resolutions are just a shout into the void: a moment we allow ourselves to be so naive that we believe we are truly going to change in concrete ways. Once in a while, we achieve our New Year’s hopes, but by the end of the year, our resolutions feel so far away, we don’t even realize it.
31% of Americans experience this yearly phenomenon of setting goals once the clock strikes midnight. This seems particularly popular among the youth (under 40 years old), who are twice as likely to make resolutions.
And yet, despite the culture of intention-setting impacting all of us, these resolutions rarely make it past April. According to a Forbes Health/One poll, the average resolution lasts just 3.74 months, just shy of a third of the year.
With so many resolutions set, and so many failed, each year, how do we make sure that we achieve our New Year goals?
It all starts with the goal itself. It’s easy to get carried away setting resolutions and make wild, overzealous promises to ourselves without a clear plan of how to actually achieve them. Large, abstract resolutions only lend themselves to failure.
Abstract goals are often associated with aspirations for the future, and therefore, are heavily dependent on self-control and constant motivation. Motivation, which might seem in abundance in the new year, quickly depletes as the year progresses, especially since abstract resolutions rarely have measurable progress markers to indicate that you are on the road to success.
While it may seem silly, writing down your resolutions might increase your likelihood for success. Dr. Gail Matthews of Dominican University conducted a study on success of resolutions, splitting participants into five groups. One group only thought about their resolutions, while the other groups increasingly wrote about and followed up on their resolutions.
All groups that wrote down their resolutions “achieved significantly more” than those who did not. By writing down resolutions, you are improving the chances of actually completing your goals.
Furthermore, it’s important to split up resolutions into manageable, week-by-week sections. 12 months is a lot of time, and Parkinson’s Law explains that work generally expands to fill the time that is given. In other words, the more time there is, the less effective humans get.
So, to avoid this, create a SMART goal. SMART is an acronym developed for creating resolutions that are attainable: goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. The framework not only makes abstract ideas concrete, but it strengthens self discipline, boosts motivation, and allows a clear way to track progress.
For example, if you want to become healthier (in 2025, over 96 million U.S. adults resolved to focus on fitness, according to the Health and Fitness Association), a SMART goal might be the resolution to work out three times a week.
The goal is specific, as it has to do with a concrete way to increase fitness and health. It’s measurable because it is easy to count the number of days. It’s achievable since there are many different ways to work out: weightlifting, running, biking, Pilates, yoga, sports. Finally, it is relevant and time bound because it occurs every week, giving a reasonable time frame to get in three workouts.
That leads into the next part about setting resolutions: be realistic about what you can achieve. If you have a heavy workload, participate in two sports, and have a job outside of school, you’re going to have limited time. That’s not to say get rid of your goals but think about how your resolution can fit into your schedule.
In the end, how successful you are with your New Year’s resolution will depend entirely on what you actually do. Every single day this year, you will have so many opportunities to put in the work to achieve your goals, and it is crucial that you do.
Thoughts and written words are comforting, but actions are what actually move the needle forward. So, find a friend, and ask them to hold you accountable. Post a paper with your resolution on the wall of your room so you are reminded of it every morning. And show up, consistently, to move towards a version of yourself that the January 1 version of you is proud of.
Sage • Mar 15, 2026 at 10:49 am
I agree that new years resolutions are often just a box that many Americans check off as a way to get on with the year and leave that goal on the shelf. I am not big on resolutions personally, as even the smallest task such as doing the laundry or cleaning my room, require me to be motivated and in that headspace. Often, thats just luck. This article has made me want to try a resolution next year. I usually measure the year by when school starts, not January 1, but maybe a renewal of my beginning for school goals would be a realistic step for me to take.
Alana Jones • Mar 5, 2026 at 6:44 pm
I do agree with the perspective of this article. I did set new year’s resolutions. I believe that new years resolutions should be made with depth and actual thought because if not it’s bound to fail. You shouldn’t set a goal that you aren’t passionate about achieving. Also, you shouldn’t set an unrealistic time that your goal should be achieved. Good things take time. Big goals should be made into smaller goals that gradually help you achieve the main one. In the previous years, I’ve taken time to think out my goals. Then, I think about what I can do to make my way to achieve it.
Christian • Mar 1, 2026 at 5:06 pm
I agree with this article that setting New Year’s resolutions can often not work out because most times people set goals for the new year, and usually stop happening about a month into the year. However, I think that it all depends on whether or not they intended to go through with this goal in the first place, and not just because they said they would do it “for the new year.” I think a good way to keep up with a new years resolution is to set monthly or weekly goals rather than just having one big, broad goal that you want to follow. For example, you can set goals like doing more homework, but to effectively follow that goal is to look at it week by week and only focus on what important homework you have that week instead of just saying “I’m gonna do all of my homework for the rest of the year.” Although setting new years goals can be tricky to keep up with i think this article details how to maintain those goals pretty well.
Zyion Samuel-Barnes • Feb 25, 2026 at 10:11 pm
I agree with the article “New Year, New Me?” because it shows how hard it is to keep big New Year’s resolutions. I think it’s better to make small goals instead of trying to change everything at once. This year, I made a resolution to manage my time better by making daily to-do lists and starting homework earlier. In the past, I tried goals like “exercise every day,” but those were too hard to keep. The article’s advice to take small steps makes sense because real change doesn’t happen overnight. It’s easier to improve a little bit every day than to try to be perfect right away.
Alana Conway • Feb 20, 2026 at 3:48 pm
Most people definitely fall into the category of setting new goals at the start of the year. I did not set a New Year’s resolution. Instead of a resolution my friends and I decided to make wishes going into the New Year. I think the SMART goal is a really good way to hold yourself accountable and also make an achievable resolution. If I were to set a resolution for next year I would definitely think about this article and specifically the SMART goal. In past years when I set resolutions I would follow through with them for a week and then get burnt out.
Seysa Musonge • Feb 20, 2026 at 2:13 pm
I agree because like a lot of people, I’ve also made a new years resolution. I think the people that are really committed to it can do it.Some people just make new years resolutions to make themselves feel like they’re going to change their habits. I didn’t set a new year’s resolution this year. I believe that if you want to better yourself, you shouldn’t need a resolution in order to complete. I like the idea of how you said writing them down on a piece of paper is more effective. I also believe that setting realistic goals is the best way for new years resolutions. If you don’t have the most money or for instance don’t have enough time. Why are you trying to set a goal that costs a lot of money or is time consuming. All in all, I think if you’re dedicated, you will complete your goals.
Calvin Cannon • Feb 20, 2026 at 10:19 am
I can say I’ve been in this very situation. People make new year’s resolutions every year and they never seem to fulfill them. It’s true when they say they want to lose weight, how are you supposed to measure that. It’s easy to set goals like, “be more healthy”, but there aren’t any clear steps in order to achieve that. It’s nice to say them but where’s the commitment? I like how you said people who write down goals tend to achieve them, and I agree. I think it can even be described using the terms SMART goals, which outline the steps and restrict to less time. It’s clear you’ve put in the effort and time. It’s nice to see it all come together.
Meadow Campuzano • Feb 19, 2026 at 10:09 pm
I agree that most people forget about their New Year’s resolution in the first two weeks. Some people do act on it for maybe a month but then just end up forgetting about it. I don’t think I set a New Year’s resolution this year. I think I might have, but as most people, I have forgotten what it even was. I think that the part about writing down your resolution to actually be more likely to do it is smart. I feel like it’s similar to writing study guides. The act of writing all your notes helps you retain the knowledge more. So writing your resolution will make you think of it more and make you more likely to follow through with it.
Lia Khoury • Feb 19, 2026 at 12:04 pm
I really found the part where making goals too big can backfire, and I will defend;y be keeping that in mind! The last few new years I never really made any goal because I knew I wouldn’t keep them going and I no longer saw the point in coming up with them then. However I think that this year I have so far stayed on track and am very proud of myself. It is definitely because I set reasonable goals and also remained mindful of myself and the downtime I need. While it is only the second month, I actually started them in December so I feel I’m doing great now that I have made balance a key aspect of my goals. Making sure I had the right motivation was also key too because if you lose that motivation, it is easy to fail your goal. This article was very real and useful too! Thanks!!
Gabriel Anderson • Feb 19, 2026 at 11:54 am
I agree with the perspective in this article because it explains why so many New Year’s resolutions fail and shows that vague or unrealistic goals are usually the problem. I don’t normally set New Year’s resolutions, but this year I did set a goal for myself to go All‑American again. The advice in the article actually connects to what I’m already doing with hurdles, since I’ve been breaking down my training into weekly phases and focusing on specific parts of my form to fix, which is basically the SMART method without me realizing it. Writing things down and making smaller steps makes the goal feel more manageable, and the article’s point about being realistic with your schedule and staying consistent fits with how I’ve been approaching my training. My experience with resolutions in the past hasn’t been strong since I usually don’t make them.
Gary L • Feb 19, 2026 at 10:34 am
I agree that so many people say they’re gonna make new years revolutions or they do make them but they never actually follow it or actually do it. sometimes the New Year’s revolutions are realistic and sometimes they just don’ t make sense. I feel like sometimes the revolutions should be more of time goals and they should start off small and get bigger. Because most of the time the people get lazy , don’t have time, or money and they lose what they were working for. And then life is life so sometimes life just hits and then things come out of nowhere that you didn’t think would happen. but I would also say that still makes goals because sometimes it gives you a motivational push and sometimes people do make there goals.
ethan son • Feb 18, 2026 at 5:54 pm
I agree with this article because it explains why so many New Year resolutions fail. People make goals too big, so they just lose motivation quickly. She also has a point when she says, “could you even pinpoint what your resolutions had been on January 1?” Personally, I forgot what my New Years resolution was or even if I made one. I’d use this advice from the article by making a simple resolution and track my progress. My experiences with past New Years resolutions wasn’t the best because I just ended up forgetting about it or just not doing it at all.
Asher DuTot • Feb 18, 2026 at 4:21 pm
I agree with the perspectives in the article. Even though I did not set a new years resolution this year, I have in the past, and I quickly forgot or just gave up on it. I think a good way to fallow the advice, specifically the SMART acronym, is when you write down your resolution, include how it meets the criteria, that way you know it is possible from the beginning. I also think another important part of making sure your goal is realistic is by making time for it in the beginning of the year so you don’t have to worry about making time every day.
miles • Feb 18, 2026 at 1:55 pm
I agree with the article that people will most likely give up on the new years resolution. People set themselves up for failure by making their new years resolutions to grand or a giant project. Then they feel like it’s too much and give up or just never can do it in a year. I didn’t make any resolutions this year because I didn’t know what to say and I probably wouldn’t have done them anyway. I think this article gives good ways to keep resolutions going but the best way in my opinion is S.M.A.R.T because it’s a good way to make your goals more short and precise.
Fia • Feb 18, 2026 at 11:38 am
I agree with this perspective in this because usually resolutions tend to be over the top sometimes and way to out of reach for ourselves. I like the acronym SMART. Its a nice way to think about my resolution and it keeps it under control and reachable. I also like the strategy of writing down the resolution because it really helps remembering the goal and the steps towards the goal. Usually I don’t follow through with my resolutions and I end up not making any because I know I probably won’t end up doing them but taking some of the strategies from this article will defiantly help out with following through to the goal I set for myself for the new year even if its little.
Adam Shabana • Feb 18, 2026 at 11:32 am
I agree with the perspective in this article because in my experience I have rarely followed through with my New Year’s Resolution, which is why I haven’t set one this year. I believe that the advice from this article can greatly raise the percentage of New Year’s resolutions being accomplished. It promotes reasonable and measurable goals and actually allows people to track their progress while also giving them a sense of satisfaction every few weeks which keeps their motivation growing.
Skyler • Feb 18, 2026 at 8:52 am
I completely agree with the perspective in this article about new years resolutions. People think they are doing something by setting these resolutions, but in reality, if you have to wait till the new year to take control of your life and get enough motivations to set goals, you are going to get nowhere. The whole illusion of “New year new me” is just in your mind. Every single day is a new year if you think about it, so there is NO point in getting all hyped in the new year just to fall back into old habits and never actually change. I will follow the advice by writing my goals down more and just doing them instead of spending time planning. My experience with previous new year’s resolutions have been bad, I never actually think about them a month into the year. So now, I will constantly set new goals and not wait for the new year, where millions of people are filled with false hope.
Harrison • Feb 11, 2026 at 8:21 am
I agree with the perspective in this article that often times New Year’s resolutions are too lofty and lead to disappointment. I set a New Year’s resolution this year and did not even make it past the first day. However, I think the strategy of writing down your resolution to make it imprinted in your memory is smart and would have a big effect on me. I also believe New Year’s resolutions are an excuse to not start making progress in one’s life; it is a way to push it off until the new year instead of taking action now.
Tsukki • Feb 9, 2026 at 12:54 pm
I, as well as most of the world, love to make empty promises when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. It requires an insane amount of practiced discipline and patience (for those who wish to see results from their resolutions) that I just don’t have, so I don’t stick to them. I usually don’t make New Year’s resolutions anyway because I’m the type of person who sporadically plans a rebrand after one too many scrolls on Pinterest, but I could try and use the smart format the next time that happens.
avery • Feb 5, 2026 at 3:57 pm
I agree with the perspectives shared in this article. In the past, I’ve tried to set goals or build habits at the start of the year, but the tasks become daunting. I either forget what the goal is, or become quickly intimidated by the task. While it’s important to push yourself to be the best version of yourself, I think it’s easy to get carried away with setting hard goals for yourself. Having a thorough guide to effectively set goals was extremely helpful to not only, explain why achieving resolutions is difficult, but also guide you in setting possible goals and following through.
Joseph Lee • Feb 3, 2026 at 11:16 pm
The emphasis on SMART goals is convincing. Turning vague expectations like “get stronger” into measurable/quantifiable actions, such as weight-lifting progress, makes progress visible. It helps keep motivation going when the initial spark dies. I like how this article points out the limits of motivation and the importance of structure/accountability.
Resolutions shouldn’t be framed simply as successes or failures; even partially realized goals have already led to better habits and self-awareness. It isn’t like they somehow erase the effort that you had put in.
Ezra Sileshi • Feb 3, 2026 at 8:29 pm
This article does a good job explaining why New Year’s resolutions often dont workout and also what people can do to improve their chances of actually completing there New Years resolution. I really liked how it used real statistics, like the fact that the average resolution only lasts 3.74 months, because it makes the argument feel realistic and relatable for some people. The idea that resolutions can be “a shout into the void” stood out to me, since many people forget their goals like right after January starts. I also found the explanation of SMART goals helpful. Making harder goals into smaller and measurable steps which makes success feel more possible and less stressful as the year goes by. This article shows that action means more then intention when it comes to goals and New Years resolutions.
J Wu • Feb 3, 2026 at 6:57 pm
I really like and agree with the perspective stated in this article. I think that most people set themselves to an unrealistic resolution that ends up falling through. I myself haven’t been setting new years resolutions for a couple of years now, considering I’m prone to forgetting at times, and I know I’m not the only one. Being realistic when setting a new years resolution is a much smarter way to give yourself expectations that you can follow through with. I think the sentiment that a new year brings an opportunity to better yourself, but the best way to do so is a goal that you can be confident that you can (or at least try) to complete.
Kylie Firmin • Feb 3, 2026 at 2:26 pm
I think this is a really interesting perspective. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize the unrealistic nature of New Year’s resolutions. Some years, I don’t even bother to set them at all because I know that there’s a larger chance that I won’t fulfill them than the chance that I will. With that said, I think the idea of using a time of renewal as a reset is comforting. Many people, aside from making resolutions, use the New Year as a figurative rebirth. The New Year is often coupled with ideas surrounding new life, new experiences, new wisdom. It’s nice to think that in light of the New Year, new things will happen. But I think it’s just as important to recognize how to realize the “New Year’s dream” with objectives you can actually complete.
Anjali Holloman • Feb 3, 2026 at 10:25 am
I agree that most people are not able to keep their New Year’s resolutions. It takes determination and discipline. I think that implementing a SMART resolution is a great way to hold yourself accountable. I did not make a resolution this year because I knew that I would not be able to keep it. And I know that in past years I made grandiose goals that I never even attempted to start. I read about someone who makes life goals in quarters instead of whole years. So she splits the year into four and then makes small achievable goals. I think that is a great way to look at it, so that the goals don’t seem too daunting to start. All it takes is a push to start.
chloe • Feb 3, 2026 at 11:28 am
I also agree with this take. The prospect of New Year’s resolutions can be daunting for many people. There is so much pressure to adhere strictly to one’s goals, so much so that if someone slips up or makes a mistake with it, they punish themselves and feel bad. I feel like this is completely counterproductive, as New Year’s resolutions are typically supposed to be about bettering yourself, and this process often ends up making you feel worse than before. I believe we should make our New Year’s resolutions with a bit less pressure and focus more on what we can truly achieve and improve.
Makayla Littles • Feb 2, 2026 at 10:38 pm
I would have to agree with the rest of the world that my new year’s resolutions always fall apart rather quickly. I always forget about them because January is always such an overwhelming month. It makes me forget that I have other goals to accomplish outside of the classroom. Honestly, I never thought about figuring out some sort of checkpoint system to remain consistent with my new year goals. As the author mentioned in the article, change is not simply something that happens overnight, and accomplishing goals is not a simple act. I actually love this idea of checkpoints because something that helps me complete my assignments is setting a thorough outline, so this method seems very effective. I would honestly try this advice for next new year. I also think it is nice to reflect on your progress, so these checkpoints are also a good time to gain additional motivation to keep completing your goal(s).
Adalyn • Feb 6, 2026 at 2:27 pm
I also agree with this point. Without SMART goals, I feel as though I don’t follow my resolutions or goals that I set for the new year, and I just forget they even exist. Also, with checkpoints, it does help with the process due to you feeling like you accomplished something, even if it’s not your overall goal. I feel like sometimes when you are trying to achieve something, if the goal feels too far, you want to give up more, and if you don’t reach the goal by a certain time frame, you feel like you failed. With checkpoints, however, you don’t feel like you failed because you at least achieved some of your goals, which still makes you feel good about yourself.
Loren • Feb 2, 2026 at 9:34 pm
I agree with the perspective in this article, I think that this is the right way to look at this matter of people not sticking to their new years resolutions. I did set a resolution. I think that the advice I liked the most was having your new years resolutions posted up on your wall so you would be able to see it everyday, to remind yourself and hopefully keep you motivated. I think another advice that I would follow is making your new years resolutions something that can be completed every week instead of something that is huge and outlandish that you will not be able to carry out. For me my experience with my previous resolutions has not been the best. I have stuck to some but others I tend to forget and then I don’t carry out what I set out to do in the previous years.
Henry Sylva • Feb 2, 2026 at 5:47 pm
One of the things that hit me was when the author said that vague/abstract goals depend too much on our own self-control, especially when motivation usually wears off very quickly after the New Year’s has passed and things get busy. This article helped me see how simply having a specific blueprint can make such a huge difference in whether or not I keep my resolution when I made it. Following the article’s guidelines, I will now turn my resolution into a SMART goal with specific weekly actions planned based on my available time each week. I will also write my goal down and tell someone that can hold me accountable for my progress by encouraging me to continue each week until I have reached my goal. In the past, most of my New Year’s resolutions have fizzled or failed by the end of March due to a lack of tracking and planning to track my progress and results. This article helped reinforce the importance of following through on an established process and having a reasonable and realistic action plan to accomplish my New Year resolution.
Alana • Feb 2, 2026 at 5:32 pm
I find that it is unrealistic to instantaneously achieve a goal or to keep one ideal goal for the whole year. I often wonder why we as people wait till new years to set goals instead of setting goals the next day, or a week later. To make a change is not to wait till the new year to start. I agree that taking action is the way to create change because romanticizing the idea of change inside your head will get you nowhere. My New Year’s goal is to spend less time on my phone and social media and spend more time doing things that will benefit me physically, intellectually, and spiritually. I replaced social media with an app called SubStack, where I can read personal essays and get book recommendations. My pervious new years resolutions were things that I forgot about in a month, like trying to run every day, or trying to use fewer filler words while speaking. But, with a new mindset, and with a new perspective on new years resolution for this article, I think my New Year’s goals can now be a new addition to my lifestyle.
Lauren Washington • Feb 2, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Hi Serafina and Anjali, this article is well-written. I really enjoyed how y’all decided to include statics and acronyms. It keeps the reader engaged and not overwhelmed with information. Although, I do not have a new year’s resolution this year I have found in the past that it is easier to set short term goals to accomplish a long term. It helps not only me but others too to set short term goals to spilt up the work into more manageable chunks. I think everyone who benefit from possibly trying this in the future.
Cam • Feb 2, 2026 at 2:38 pm
I have also found that myself and my peers have given up on the notion of fulfilling a New Year’s resolution. I have still set goals for myself this year, but I don’t consider them “New Year’s resolutions,” as the terminology tricks me into thinking I have more time than I do, or makes me more likely to push the goal further into the year. The concept of a SMART goal is interesting to me, and the stricter rules and goals definitely seem as though they would encourage people to fulfill their resolutions in more concrete ways, and sooner. I hope putting it into practice will help me achieve my first serious New Year’s resolution in my recent memory.
Ruhi • Feb 2, 2026 at 12:30 pm
I agree with this perspective. My experience with previous New Year’s resolutions has been that I say nameless things I want to accomplish, but either forget or become too lazy to actually accomplish those goals throughout the year. My new mentality with resolutions is that I wing it. If it’s something I really want to accomplish, I’ll do whatever it takes to accomplish said goal. Long story short, if there is a will, there is a way. If it’s something really important to me, I’ll do it without a wish or piece of paper telling me to. I adopted this mentality as I entered high school, so I haven’t set a resolution for 2026 again beliveing that if I truly want it, I’ll work hard for it. Maybe I’ll try this method and see if it works, and if I actually accomplish the goals I set for myself!
Henry Goldstein • Feb 1, 2026 at 6:46 pm
I agree with the perspective of this article. I think most people (including myself) don’t achieve the resolutions they have set for themselves on Jan. 1 because they’re not really goals, but more like wishes. I like the part of this article that gives the example (wish) of being healthier and the goals they should take to achieve it. Without a set plan, there is a much smaller chance of achieving your resolution. If you set those specific tasks for yourself, the resolution gives you something to do, not just something to wish for. I did not set any specific resolutions for myself, but I have thought about what I want to change this year, and this article has helped me realize I need to take action instead of meandering in my thoughts about my goals.
Paige • Feb 1, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Yes I agree with the perspectives because I constantly see and hear people make new years resolutions that they could’ve done last year, or the year before. It’s almost like a cycle, or a justification to make yourself feel better for not fulfilling your last resolution. I will not only follow the advice given, but also choose not to set unrealistic resolutions for the new year and things that do not align with me and my practices just because I feel like I am supposed to. I feel as though that is where people get it wrong, and end up not fulfilling what they want. I did not set any resolutions this year because I feel like I don’t need the new year to set goals for myself, I try to do that every day. My experience with previous resolutions has been kind of forgetting about them, and forgetting about why I set them.
Elise C • Jan 27, 2026 at 2:21 pm
I like your insight on how we can improve our resolutions and actually make them achievable! I agree and have noticed that a lot of people quit after 1-2 months, but again if you’re really committed to making a change or learning something new, you can do it step-by-step. 🙂
Bobbi • Jan 14, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Some very good ideas. Found very helpful