By the time February rolls around, the energy of the new year has started to settle. We have got Blue Monday out the way but did you manage to maintain all that new year enthusiasm that you started 2025 with? The gym is already looking a little emptier than it was a few weeks back, and the shiny new family planner still hasn’t been touched. Is this all sounding a bit too familiar? Don’t panic; you can remain anonymous.
New Year's resolutions aren’t just a new fad, though; they have been around for thousands of years. The ancient Babylonians were believed to be the first to make promises to their gods at the start of the year, pledging to repay debts and return borrowed items. The Romans followed suit by making promises to Janus, the two-faced god of transitions and beginnings (which is where January gets its name). The tradition has continued in modern times, although our resolutions now tend to revolve around self-improvement rather than divine favour…and the ones focusing on self-care are our favourites!
Every year, people across the world resolve to get in shape, save money, read more books, quit smoking, be more organised, or finally start that life-changing project. The list goes on and on and on. These goals, made with the best intentions, seem completely achievable when the new year arrives and motivation is high, but sadly, as we step into February, reality sets in. The problem isn’t that people don’t want to make these changes; it’s that change is hard – but that’s where the sense of achievement lies if we can just stay focused! Studies show (yes, we have done our research) that most of the population abandon their resolutions very early in the year. According to research from the University of Scranton, only about 8% of people actually achieve their New Year's resolutions. A 2021 survey by Statista found that 22% of people give up within the first month, while 40% last a few months. The numbers don’t lie; they prove that most resolutions just don’t last. Fact.
Why do so many people fail?
The biggest reason is the way we approach our resolutions. The new year creates a surge of motivation, but motivation only lasts a certain amount of time. When day-to-day life returns to normal, it’s harder to keep up the momentum. Many resolutions are also too vague or too ambitious. Saying, ‘I want to get in shape’, doesn’t really mean anything if we are being brutally honest. Sorry, but it’s true. Without a concrete plan, it is easy to lose direction. Similarly, if a goal is unrealistic—like working out seven days a week when you previously didn’t work out at all—it becomes overwhelming. It is that feeling that makes us run in the opposite direction of what we are trying to achieve. Counterproductive, right?
February is when the true test of commitment begins and is the perfect opportunity to check in and see how everything is going. For example, if you set a goal to wake up at 5am every day and hit the gym but have struggled to do so, does that mean you have failed? Not at all. Maybe waking up that early was just too big a change to maintain, so instead of giving up, adjust the goal to something more realistic. Flexibility is key and much more sustainable. Businesses check in on their goals on a regular basis; it is normal and very healthy.
Another common reason people give up is an all-or-nothing mentality. Missing a few workouts or breaking a healthy eating streak can lead to thoughts like, ‘What’s the point?’, a mindset that is incredibly unhelpful…and untrue. Setbacks are to be expected, but we all need to bounce back from them instead of giving up. Accountability is key, and sharing goals with friends or family can help maintain motivation. The key is finding what works for you; it’s not one size fits all. This might involve a bit of trial and error, but what is it they say about enjoying the journey, not just the destination…we couldn’t agree more.
What do you really want?
Take some time to evaluate whether your goals align with what you truly want for yourself.
It is also worth questioning whether a New Year should be the only time we commit to self-improvement. Why do we wait for January 1st to make a change? The pressure of making huge life adjustments all at once can be overwhelming. We keep using that word, but it is so key to the message. Instead of setting one massive resolution at the start of the year, some people - and businesses such as ours - find success by setting smaller, incremental goals throughout the year. If February has already made you feel like you’ve failed, consider starting fresh next month…or later in the year. There are no rules!
Our one main takeaway from this blog is that one of the best ways to ensure success is to shift from making resolutions to creating habits. Resolutions tend to be framed as grand goals with a definitive endpoint, whereas habits are about creating sustainable routines. Small, consistent actions are much more powerful than sweeping declarations that are often unachievable. Maybe your original goal needs tweaking. Perhaps you need to redefine success. New Year's resolutions are just a tool for self-improvement. They shouldn’t be unforgiving rules that set you up for failure.
Sometimes, we all need a gentle reminder that change isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. It is cheesy but true!
New Year's resolutions aren’t just a new fad, though; they have been around for thousands of years. The ancient Babylonians were believed to be the first to make promises to their gods at the start of the year, pledging to repay debts and return borrowed items. The Romans followed suit by making promises to Janus, the two-faced god of transitions and beginnings (which is where January gets its name). The tradition has continued in modern times, although our resolutions now tend to revolve around self-improvement rather than divine favour…and the ones focusing on self-care are our favourites!
Every year, people across the world resolve to get in shape, save money, read more books, quit smoking, be more organised, or finally start that life-changing project. The list goes on and on and on. These goals, made with the best intentions, seem completely achievable when the new year arrives and motivation is high, but sadly, as we step into February, reality sets in. The problem isn’t that people don’t want to make these changes; it’s that change is hard – but that’s where the sense of achievement lies if we can just stay focused! Studies show (yes, we have done our research) that most of the population abandon their resolutions very early in the year. According to research from the University of Scranton, only about 8% of people actually achieve their New Year's resolutions. A 2021 survey by Statista found that 22% of people give up within the first month, while 40% last a few months. The numbers don’t lie; they prove that most resolutions just don’t last. Fact.
Why do so many people fail?
The biggest reason is the way we approach our resolutions. The new year creates a surge of motivation, but motivation only lasts a certain amount of time. When day-to-day life returns to normal, it’s harder to keep up the momentum. Many resolutions are also too vague or too ambitious. Saying, ‘I want to get in shape’, doesn’t really mean anything if we are being brutally honest. Sorry, but it’s true. Without a concrete plan, it is easy to lose direction. Similarly, if a goal is unrealistic—like working out seven days a week when you previously didn’t work out at all—it becomes overwhelming. It is that feeling that makes us run in the opposite direction of what we are trying to achieve. Counterproductive, right?
February is when the true test of commitment begins and is the perfect opportunity to check in and see how everything is going. For example, if you set a goal to wake up at 5am every day and hit the gym but have struggled to do so, does that mean you have failed? Not at all. Maybe waking up that early was just too big a change to maintain, so instead of giving up, adjust the goal to something more realistic. Flexibility is key and much more sustainable. Businesses check in on their goals on a regular basis; it is normal and very healthy.
Another common reason people give up is an all-or-nothing mentality. Missing a few workouts or breaking a healthy eating streak can lead to thoughts like, ‘What’s the point?’, a mindset that is incredibly unhelpful…and untrue. Setbacks are to be expected, but we all need to bounce back from them instead of giving up. Accountability is key, and sharing goals with friends or family can help maintain motivation. The key is finding what works for you; it’s not one size fits all. This might involve a bit of trial and error, but what is it they say about enjoying the journey, not just the destination…we couldn’t agree more.
What do you really want?
Take some time to evaluate whether your goals align with what you truly want for yourself.
It is also worth questioning whether a New Year should be the only time we commit to self-improvement. Why do we wait for January 1st to make a change? The pressure of making huge life adjustments all at once can be overwhelming. We keep using that word, but it is so key to the message. Instead of setting one massive resolution at the start of the year, some people - and businesses such as ours - find success by setting smaller, incremental goals throughout the year. If February has already made you feel like you’ve failed, consider starting fresh next month…or later in the year. There are no rules!
Our one main takeaway from this blog is that one of the best ways to ensure success is to shift from making resolutions to creating habits. Resolutions tend to be framed as grand goals with a definitive endpoint, whereas habits are about creating sustainable routines. Small, consistent actions are much more powerful than sweeping declarations that are often unachievable. Maybe your original goal needs tweaking. Perhaps you need to redefine success. New Year's resolutions are just a tool for self-improvement. They shouldn’t be unforgiving rules that set you up for failure.
Sometimes, we all need a gentle reminder that change isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. It is cheesy but true!