At the beginning of every new year, people create resolutions in hopes of bettering themselves and reaching their goals. These resolutions are beneficial for improving well-being and achieving goals, and they are especially effective when paired with consistency.

In a 2014 study on a psychological concept called the “fresh start effect,” behavioral scientists Hengchen Dai, Katherine Milkman, and Jason Riis found that milestone periods like the new year usually boost people’s motivation to set major goals and frame a new, more optimistic mindset. According to their research, these “temporal landmarks” create a sense of separation between someone’s past and current self, presenting a clean slate on which it is easier to make big changes. Because of the fresh-start feeling that comes around each January, New Year’s resolutions have a greater potential for success.

The act of setting goals alone can improve mental health and concentration. A 2019 study published by scientific journal compiler BioMed Central on child and adolescent psychiatry notes that goal-setting is positively correlated with engagement and retention. This finding demonstrates that even individuals who do not follow through on their resolutions can still benefit by simply creating them, as the mindset that comes with making resolutions is a major promoter of growth.

For students, setting school-related goals improves academic performance. A study conducted in 2010 on undergraduate students in Canada by researchers Dominique Morisano, Jacob Hirsh, Jordan Peterson, and Robert Pihl discovered that students who set specific academic goals ended the semester with approximately 17% higher mean grade point averages than those who did not. Similar to how it impacts engagement and retention, this means setting academic goals at a temporal marker such as New Year’s could multiply the benefits in academic achievement.

Although many think New Year’s resolutions are pointless because most people drop them shortly after the new year begins, data suggests this is not as drastic of an issue as it may seem. A study led by University of Scranton psychology professor John C. Norcross reports that, from 1978 to 2020, the average success rate of New Year’s resolutions after six months was 46%. In short, nearly half of all resolutions were sustained, proving that resolutions can be quite beneficial.

For those who cannot stick to their resolutions, however, there are some strategies to help them succeed. A particular method proven to be effective is setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals. For example, the “SMART” version of the goal “I’ll learn to play guitar” could be “I’ll practice guitar for at least an hour every day and learn a new song by the end of each month.” A study published in the Journal of Management reveals that people who set SMART goals are 90% more likely to actually achieve them than those who set non-specific goals.

New Year’s resolutions have been psychologically proven to benefit their setters, and they are not as difficult to keep as one might think. By implementing self-accountability habits and making their goals detailed, everyone can make this new year better than the last.

The idea behind New Year’s resolutions encompasses setting new goals for the upcoming year in different aspects of life, both personal and academic. While setting New Year’s resolutions is a deeply rooted ritual in society, they are not beneficial because they lack genuine motivation and generate unrealistic expectations, ultimately resulting in goal abandonment and disappointment.

New Year’s resolutions are supposed to be an opportunity and time for people to reflect on the past year and create changes for the upcoming one. According to a Columbia Broadcasting System survey, 8% of participants said their resolutions lasted a month, 22.2% reported three months, and only 1% said they lasted over 11 months. Given the small percentage of individuals who successfully maintained their goals throughout the entire year, this statistic reveals that New Year’s resolutions often fail to address the underlying habits necessary for creating lasting changes. While the start of the new year may provide an initial boost of motivation, it fails to instill the drive required for more meaningful change.

New Year’s resolutions often include goals like eating healthier or studying more, which individuals can only attain in the long term if they are motivated by a strong intrinsic factor. The beginning of each year is an arbitrary time for most starts towards betterment, which can cause a loss of motivation and increase the likelihood of their plans falling through. In a U.S. News & World Report study, most people surveyed lost their resolve and motivation just weeks later. The trigger or motivation boost that individuals rely on stems from the excitement of the new year, but as the year progresses, this sense of renewal and enthusiasm quickly diminishes. Although setting goals can help individuals become aware of places for improvement, it can also be difficult for them to take meaningful action if the motivational factor is missing.

Another issue with keeping New Year’s resolutions is the tendency to set unrealistic goals, which are often influenced by social media. Research data published by the University of Alberta shows that approximately 90% of women and 65% of men compare themselves to other social media users. This phenomenon causes many to base their goals on what they see online. However, this approach often leads to unrealistic goals due to different circumstances or situations. For example, if an individual follows the workout routine of an influencer with more free time, their inability to stay consistent sets them up for failure. Therefore, many individuals end up setting unrealistic and unachievable goals by blindly adopting vague resolutions based on others’ posts rather than personal circumstances.

One could argue that New Year’s resolutions are beneficial because they give individuals a chance to start the year fresh with goals they can achieve. They can potentially catalyze positive change in people’s lives because it encourages self-reflection of the past year and personal growth. Resolutions also allow individuals to address areas that need improvement and prioritize personal development. However, these resolutions are often unrealistic and frequently lead to disappointment and eventual failure. Many set overly ambitious goals without having genuine motivation, causing goals to easily become overwhelming. Unachieved goals lead to comparison, fostering discouragement and abandonment.

Setting resolutions for the new year is not only detrimental but also ignorant of realistic expectations. New Year’s resolutions lack the focus on individual needs and readiness for change. Instead, they use an arbitrary date to act as a source of bogus motivation that is detrimental in the long run.