Whether it be 2026 vision boards that are made from Pinterest, a hand-written list of goals, or even buttons that only the person using them needs to understand, many of us have adopted a New Year’s Resolution by now.
With the end of January upon us, the high of imagining a future self has died down, but the discipline to put those goals into practice is surely testing us.
While roughly 80% of individuals enter the new year with full confidence in their ability to achieve their New Year’s resolutions, reality tells a different story: less than 22% of participants actually maintain those goals for more than three months, according to Forbes Health.
New Year’s resolutions usually focus on habits we know are healthy for us, even if they feel physically demanding or mentally unfamiliar, such as beginning to exercise or giving ourselves permission to rest when we’re used to working around the clock.
However, changing behaviors isn’t about necessarily laziness or the lack of motivation, but it’s down to the neurological pathways in our brains.
As explained on the Scenic City Neurotherapy website, consistently adopting new behaviors is difficult because our brains are physically wired to default to old habits and familiar emotional responses. If the brain doesn’t deem something to be useful, it doesn’t release dopamine, the chemical that makes us feel satisfied once we achieve a goal.
It’s important to remember that on days when we’re struggling or can’t seem to fit a new routine into our schedules, we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves; sometimes the challenge is physical and beyond our control in the brain.
Still, it’s never too late to take a deep breath and start over—whether that means resetting our day or rethinking our direction.
Kaiser Permanente suggests a few helpful ways to stay on track with your New Year’s resolutions—be specific with your goals, track your progress for motivation, and don’t forget to forgive yourself along the way.
While it is beneficial to stay disciplined and achieve your goals, whether it is a physical or emotional aspect, the number one piece of advice is to do what makes you happy and feel rested.
Whether you decide to keep or drop your New Year’s Resolutions after January, your future self is cheering you on no matter what you decide.
