Let’s be honest: I hate resolutions. The entire concept feels like society’s cruel little joke—a tradition of failure cloaked in champagne bubbles and glittering optimism. Why do we collectively wait for January 1st to make a change? What was wrong with last Thursday at 2:53 PM? Was there a worldwide embargo on self-improvement until the calendar flipped?

Spoiler alert: No. But there is an oddly predictable psychology behind it.

Why January 1st?

Turns out, the timing isn’t random—it’s called the "fresh start effect." Behavioral psychologists have found that people are more likely to set goals at the start of a new week, month, or year because it creates a mental partition between their "past self" and "future self." It’s like we’ve collectively decided that January 1st is a cosmic reset button, despite all evidence that the same old us is walking into the new year.

Data shows this phenomenon is real. Gym memberships skyrocket by 12% in January, while celery and kale sales mysteriously peak. But here’s the twist: January isn’t even kale’s prime season. Kale thrives after a good frost, hitting its flavorful peak in late fall. By January, most kale is either overgrown or shipped in, meaning the "resolution kale" you’re buying is far from its best. And let’s face it, if kale wasn’t palatable before, it’s definitely not winning any awards in its off-season.

By mid-February? Gyms are ghost towns, and that sad, limp kale is compost. Maybe the fresh start effect is like January kale—momentarily appealing but ultimately disappointing. If we can’t even time our vegetables right, what hope do resolutions really have?

The Hard Truth About Change

Let me drop another hard truth on you: most people don’t really want to change. Sure, they like the idea of change. They like the fantasy of their future self—fit, disciplined, debt-free—but the process? Not so much. Change is uncomfortable, and as Isaac Newton so eloquently put it, an object at rest tends to stay at rest.

Humans are creatures of habit, biologically wired for consistency. That’s why behavioral inertia—sticking to the status quo—is such a formidable foe. It’s why the Bears continue to lose year after year after year. Winning is hard. We cling to our routines, even when they don’t serve us, because the devil you know is easier than the devil you don’t. Add to that the audacity of resolutions like "Run a marathon by March" when your only cardio for the last decade was racing upstairs to grab your phone before it stops ringing, and we’ve got a recipe for failure.

The Absurdity of It All

So here we are, asking ourselves to do the one thing we’re least equipped to do: change. And we’re not just aiming for "a little better than yesterday." No, we’re shooting for Everest-level goals.

Here’s the reality: some people do climb Everest. They reach the summit, plant their flag, and bask in the glory of defying the odds. Others die halfway up the mountain, victims of their own overambition. And the smartest ones? They turn around at base camp, realizing they’d rather live to climb another hill.

What separates these groups? Preparation, self-awareness, and a clear understanding of what’s possible. The people who make it aren’t magical unicorns; they’re just better at navigating the treacherous terrain of change. Meanwhile, the rest of us are slipping on ice because we brought the wrong gear—or in my case, the wrong snowshoes. Early in our relationship, my wife took me snowshoeing up a steep trail buried in fresh powder, with an icy summit waiting at the top. Her snowshoes were built for the climb, gripping the ice with ease. Mine were flimsy rentals, better suited for a casual walk through downtown Bend. Every step forward sent me sliding two steps back, and by the end, I’d managed to impress her—by catching pneumonia. Let’s just say I’ve learned the hard way that preparation matters.

Why Even Try?

But here’s where it gets interesting: some people do accomplish the nearly impossible. They lose the weight, quit smoking, catch pneumonia, or finally write that novel. What’s their secret? It’s not a resolution. It’s a plan. A deliberate, messy, often nonlinear plan to tackle their goals one step at a time. And guess what? They don’t wait until January 1st to start.

So, if you’re still clutching onto your New Year’s resolution like a life raft in a sea of broken promises, stay tuned. Over the next few blogs, we’re going to dismantle the myths, tackle the obstacles, and give you tools to create real, sustainable change.

Because climbing Everest isn’t impossible—but you’re going to need more than a New Year’s toast to get there.

The Anatomy of Resolution Failure: Why We Crash Before We Climb

Let’s not sugarcoat it—most New Year’s resolutions are doomed from the start. They crumble under the weight of our own misguided optimism and lack of preparation. We march confidently into January with Everest-sized ambitions, armed with nothing but enthusiasm and a half-hearted Pinterest board. And then reality punches us in the face.

Here are the five most common reasons we fail at resolutions, backed by research, and dripping with the obvious truth we all hate to admit.

1. Unrealistic Goals: Setting the Bar Somewhere in the Stratosphere

According to Kumar et al. (2024), 70% of people abandon their resolutions because they’re absurdly unrealistic. You want to "lose 30 pounds in a month" or "quit smoking cold turkey tomorrow"? Sure, let’s also throw in "solve world hunger", or “The Bears win the Super Bowl in Caleb Williams Rookie Season” while we’re at it. The problem with these moonshot goals isn’t ambition—it’s delusion. When we don’t hit our impossible targets, we spiral into shame and give up entirely.

Here’s the truth: Setting goals you can’t possibly reach isn’t motivational. It’s like trying to summit Everest without oxygen—admirable for the 30 seconds before you pass out and die.

2. Unsupportive Environments: Your Willpower vs. the World

Mukund et al. (2020) found that 50% of resolutions fail because our environments are actively working against us. Want to eat healthier? Good luck when your office kitchen is stocked with donuts and your coworkers are ordering pizza like it’s a competitive sport. Planning to work out? Oh, look—it’s snowing again, and your gym is 30 minutes away. Or, in my case, it’s literally across the driveway, but apparently, that’s still too treacherous to manage most days.

Face it: You’re not failing because you’re weak. You’re failing because you’re surrounded by landmines of temptation. Expecting sheer willpower to carry you through is like bringing a butter knife to a sword fight.

3. Lack of Progress Tracking: A Goal Without a Map

Meyer et al. (2018) revealed that 65% of people fail because they don’t track their progress. Think about it: You start with a lofty goal, but there’s no way to measure if you’re getting closer. A week passes, then two, and when you don’t see immediate results, your brain whispers, This isn’t working.

Here’s why it matters: Progress isn’t just about the finish line—it’s about the small wins along the way. Without those milestones, your motivation is like a leaky balloon, slowly deflating until you don’t even remember why you started.

4. Behavioral Inertia: Old Habits Die Hard (If They Die at All)

Pourmorteza et al. (2016) pinpointed behavioral inertia—our tendency to stick to what we’ve always done—as a massive roadblock. Here’s how it goes: You skip one workout. Then another. Before you know it, you’re back to binge-watching BBQ Showdown on Netflix every night instead of hitting the treadmill.

Why? Because humans love comfort. Change feels like climbing Everest barefoot in a snowstorm. And when the going gets tough, we retreat to the cozy warmth of our old habits. It’s not a character flaw—it’s biology.

5. Weak Accountability Networks: Alone, You’re an Easy Target

Castellana et al. (2016) found that 40% of people fail because they try to go it alone. Without someone holding you accountable, it’s too easy to skip the hard stuff. You rationalize. You procrastinate. You tell yourself, I’ll start fresh next Monday. And guess what? Monday never comes.

The bottom line: Humans are social creatures, whether Gen Z wants to admit it or not. And no, I don’t mean liking someone’s BeReal or sending a Snap streak—I’m talking about actual, physical interaction. Or at the very least, a solid subreddit group where you can cry about your struggles and get a virtual pat on the back from strangers who kind of care. We thrive on encouragement, peer pressure, and the occasional side-eye from a friend who refuses to let us off the hook. As a Xennial, though, I straddle the weird space between Gen X tough love and Millennial memes. Encouragement? Sure, if you count my friends relentlessly roasting me until I cave. Forget pep talks; I’ll hit the gym just to stop being called “Cardio Quitter” or “Squat-Free Since ’93” in the group chat. It’s brutal, but hey, it gets results.

Failure Is Common—But Fixable

Here’s the reality: resolutions fail for predictable reasons. Unrealistic goals, unsupportive environments, lack of progress tracking, behavioral inertia, and weak accountability all work together to derail even the best intentions. But failure isn’t final—it’s simply a sign that something in the approach needs to change.

The good news? These pitfalls are as predictable as they are fixable. Over the next five blogs, we’ll tackle each one head-on, giving you practical tools to sidestep the common traps and create real, sustainable change. This isn’t about gearing up for another round of January frustration. It’s about reshaping the way you approach your goals—starting now.

Some people crash before they climb, but others make it to the summit. Want to know the difference? It comes down to preparation, persistence, and a solid plan. Together, we’ll figure out how to make 2024 the year you don’t just survive—you thrive.

Conclusion: Let’s Rewrite the Story

Resolutions fail when they’re set up to fail—when the goals are overwhelming, the environment works against us, progress feels invisible, old habits cling to us, and accountability is nowhere to be found. But none of this means failure is the end. It’s simply feedback.

You don’t have to abandon your goals or wait until next January to try again. With a few small, deliberate adjustments, you can sidestep these common obstacles and finally make progress that lasts. This is just the beginning.

In the coming blogs, we’ll break down each barrier to success and show you how to overcome it. Whether it’s setting realistic goals, reshaping your environment, tracking progress, breaking old habits, or finding accountability, this series will arm you with everything you need to turn resolutions into results.

Because failure isn’t final—it’s just the first step toward doing it right. Let’s get started.

What’s Next: Overcoming the Odds, One Step at a Time

Here’s what you can look forward to in this series:

1. How to Set Realistic Goals That Actually Stick
   Learn how to break down big dreams into small, actionable steps and create a roadmap for success.
2. Reshaping Your Environment to Support Your Resolutions
   Discover how small tweaks to your surroundings can make achieving your goals feel effortless.
3. Progress Tracking: The Key to Staying Motivated
   Master the art of tracking your wins—big and small—and keeping your momentum alive.
4. Breaking Free of Old Habits: Steps to Lasting Change
   Explore powerful strategies like habit-stacking and pre-commitments to rewire your routines.
5. The Power of Accountability: How Others Help You Succeed
   Find out how to build a network of support and stay on track with people who won’t let you quit.

Stay tuned, because this year, failure isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of something better. Let’s tackle these challenges together and turn your resolutions into results. See you in the next post!