Struggling to stick with your New Year's Resolutions? Let me tell you why…

The new year brings a multitude of opportunities and inspirations to the foot of each motivated person; however, do these newfound goals lead to success? Or rather to an abysmal museum of failure to reflect on a year from now? In theory, New Year’s resolutions seem like a positive start to the beginning of a new chapter, but many rarely come to fruition. Why? Many resolutions revolve around an insecurity, a gap in health, resume, or money that needs to be filled in one’s life. Given this premise, failure seems plausible, and suddenly it’s all the easier to give up. January brings stress for many high schoolers, and goals that require consistency and time are harder to maintain. Additionally, once the optimism of possible change wears off, the burden of yet another failed resolution begins to squash the desire for success altogether. This often creates feelings of embarrassment and disappointment, completely negating the original intent. 

So how should New Year’s resolutions be made to stand a chance? The answer is simple: a change in mentality. The crucial mistake most make while curating resolutions is examining lacks  instead of what is already there. For example, the most common failed New Year’s resolutions always center around health. Losing weight, increasing days spent at the gym, and eating healthier are all sure to be said on January 1st but rarely see the light of day by February. These prime examples all attest to the biggest flaw of New Year's resolutions; they are set up to fail. Setting unachievable, time consuming, and drastically lifestyle changing goals with little to no preparation foreshadow the doom that lies ahead. It is best to start slowly and in ways that can actually be followed through. Most importantly, to focus on progress rather than perfection. It’s of paramount importance to be kind to oneself and to create goals centered around something that excites, rather than viewing resolutions as a checklist to cross off insecurities. 

The fastest way to fail a New Year's resolution is by setting the bar too high. What may seem like a smart start to a new chapter actually leads to burnout. The thrill of the new year fades faster when resolutions are harder to stick to. This is especially important when noting that humans are beings of routine and will fall back into old ruts because they are familiar and comfortable. Instead, people need to start with easy, attainable goals. Slowly building up to the cumulative goal gives room for mistakes to be made, while still making progress along the way. This sets the stage for success in two ways. The first being a safety net when things inevitably go wrong. No human is perfect, and by slowly building to the goal, one down day will feel less of a failure. This will help avoid the temptation to give up on the resolution entirely. Second, the slow progression will be more rewarding in the long run. What may feel like little progress will quickly turn into small victories that eventually lead to a completed resolution. 

Lastly, the most important factor when creating a New Year’s resolution is to prioritize positivity and self-growth over perfection. Starting with a goal of improvement leads to pathways that can bring success in unexpected ways. Small victories, overcoming obstacles, and new skills learned along the way of New Year's resolutions is what makes them valuable. This also helps to avoid the mundane burnout. Furthermore, beginning the year with a resolution stemming from a genuine wish for improvement rather than a place of insecurity has plentiful benefits. This subtle mental shift allows for a positive mindset throughout the often challenging road to success. A slight failure from a resolution as a result of insecurities often reinforces prior doubts. However, beginning with a mindset of improvement allows for small failures to be viewed as challenges to overcome. And of course, there is nothing wrong with starting the new year with a positive mindset with one’s best interest in mind. 

by Delaney Smith

Published February 3rd, 2025

Oshkosh West Index Volume 121 Issue IV