Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work

Every year, people set New Year’s resolutions. Lose weight. Read more. Spend more time with family. These all sound great in theory, but let’s be honest—how often do they actually stick?

The truth is, resolutions are more like wishful thinking than actionable plans. They’re usually vague and not specific enough to push you into action or keep you motivated. “Lose weight” doesn’t tell you how. “Read more” doesn’t say when or what. “Spend more time with family” leaves you guessing what “more” even means.

Even when we have good intentions, these kinds of goals fail because they don’t have enough structure. Without something concrete to guide you, it’s hard to stay committed, let alone see progress.

Instead, what works is setting clear and specific goals tied to a simple, step-by-step plan. For example:

• Instead of saying, “I want to lose weight,” aim to lose 5 kilos by June, and break it down into weekly milestones.
• Instead of “I want to read more,” decide to finish one book a month and schedule 30 minutes of reading into your day.
• Instead of “spend more time with family,” plan two meaningful activities each month, like a family game night or a weekend outing.

The key is to make your goals actionable and measurable. When you can see progress, it’s easier to stay motivated, celebrate small wins, and keep going.

Another tip? Share your plans with family or friends. When you tell someone about your goals, it creates a sense of accountability. Knowing that someone else is rooting for you—or checking in—can give you an extra push to stay on track. Plus, sharing your journey can make it more rewarding and fun.

Finally, make sure your goals align with your bigger life plan. Ask yourself: What do I want long-term, and how do these short-term goals fit into that vision? This helps give your efforts a sense of purpose and direction.

Resolutions often fail because they rely on hope rather than strategy. But when you shift to clear, actionable goals—and share them with the people who matter—you’ll find it much easier to stay committed and actually make meaningful progress.

This year, let’s skip the resolutions and focus on real change instead.

Happy New Year to all you!