New Year New You

By Chelsea Lu Feb. 11, 2026

Every New Year starts with the same things: a countdown, a promise for self-improvement and an unspoken understanding that at least one New Year’s resolution will not survive past the first month. Still, the tradition endures, with over a third of Americans making resolutions every year, according to the Pew Research Center. 

Helen Ruan Art

The habit of making resolutions can be partly attributed to the period of time at the beginning of each year where people experience the “fresh start” effect, or a feeling of unusual inspiration and motivation. As said by UCLA professor Hengcheng Dai, people tend to have a more positive view of themselves at the start of a new time period, increasing self-efficacy and the will to pursue goals. Per YouGov, the most common goals for 2026 center on health and personal growth, with 25% of people saying they will exercise more, 23% saying they will be more happy and 22% saying they will eat healthier. In fourth place, 21% of Americans stated they will save more money, which was also the most popular resolution of 2025. 

“My New Year’s resolution is to maintain a consistent sleep schedule, and I plan to do this by completing all my homework after school or as soon as possible,” Senior Nishka Gurnani said.  

Yet, Forbes found that the average resolution only lasts about three months or less, with many failing after the first month. This is largely because people struggle to turn goals into habits, or form exact measurable behaviors, also known as SMART goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound, creating a mnemonic that establishes criteria for effective goal-setting. For example, the goal of running more can be turned into the trackable behavior of running 30 minutes every day, which is easier to tackle and sustain in the long run. Many may also make too many ambitious resolutions, decreasing morale when they fail to achieve them. To remedy these problems, individuals can utilize trackers and apps that send daily reminders. It is also helpful to start small and target one goal at a time—seemingly insignificant actions can build up to become habits if done daily. Popularized by author James Clear, the concept of habit stacking, or linking a new, desired habit with a pre-existing habit, makes forming new habits less overwhelming and increases the likelihood of sticking to them.  

“I was able to achieve my New Year’s resolution last year by setting daily to-do lists and utilizing reminder apps. It was difficult at first, but slowly I found a routine. However, even on days when I felt unmotivated, I gave myself grace, letting myself regain energy before tackling my to-do list,” Sophomore Leia Mehta said. 

Evidently, it is important to remember that consistency trumps perfection. Even if daily goals are not hit, one should not beat themselves up over it. Instead, practice self-compassion by adjusting goals if they prove unrealistic, celebrating wins or milestones and finding a support system to keep accountability. Ultimately, New Year’s resolutions are not about instant transformation or ticking off boxes on a checklist, rather, they are about maintaining strong discipline and healthier habits that can last a lifetime.  

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About the Contributors

Chelsea Lu

staff writer

Chelsea Lu is a staff writer and this is her first year in Journalism. She loves hanging out with friends, building legos, and rotting in bed. She also loves writing stories.

Helen Ruan

artist

Helen Ruan is a junior at Leland High School. She contributes to journalism as an artist. In her free time, she focuses on painting and developing new artistic skills. Beyond art, she enjoys reading manga and playing video games