Only half of all New Year’s resolutions stick. Is it still worth making them?

The odds are stacked against us

Resolutions are a great catalyst for action for a lot of people. Image: Unsplash

With the data pitted against us, it's little wonder many of us are left questioning whether there's any real value in setting a resolution come January 1.

For a large number of people, the new year welcomes a restart.

Whether it be leaving the stress of the pandemic behind for good or finally taking a step towards a lifelong goal, the start of a new year is the perfect time to put some goals in place.

But with the success rate of New Year’s resolutions less than encouraging, is it still worth setting these milestones?

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Last year Finder conducted a study of over 1000 people across Australia and found that more than half of all resolutions made each year fail to see it through.

It recorded that the majority of people who make resolutions will likely break their cycle come January 12 (according to research gathered by Strava), not even two weeks into the new year.

Looking at the data, we can pin this premature failure down to the time in which most people head back to work after a lengthy holiday break, and thus, more people find less time to set aside for their goals.

Dr Jo Lukins, a performance psychologist in Townsville also argues that the nature of most resolutions unequivocally sets unrealistic expectations that ultimately set people up for failure.

“What we find is that people think about their resolutions, but they don't actually create a plan and realistic steps to achieving them," she told ABCNews.

She also noted that resolutions as a tradition have some sense of social obligation surrounding them, meaning that most people are very willing to make resolutions with little to no intention in actually seeing them through.  

More than half of all resolutions made each year fail to see it through. Image: Getty

So why bother with resolutions?

Despite the lack of evidence, resolutions are a great catalyst for action for a lot of people.

Be it fitness, financial, or life goals, setting a definite start date (like January 1) and a time frame (such as one year) is a great way for people to put their goals into perspective. If done well and with the right intentions, resolutions can spark the very motivation that some people need to get the ball rolling on their goals.

Dr Lukins says the people who stick to their goals are the ones who do a personal audit before attempting their resolutions.

"Before you even set yourself a goal, you need to consider why you're not currently working towards it."

"Do you finish work late? Is transport an issue for you? Do you face financial barriers?"

Eating healthier is a common resolution many of us set. Image: Getty

Addressing these issues before commencing your goal will help navigate most barriers that cause people to halt their progress.

It’s all about what or who is in the way of you achieving your goals and finding a feasible way around them.

Should you set a New Year’s resolution this year?

If there’s something on your milestone list you’ve always wanted to achieve, then January 1 could be the time to start putting your goals into motion. 

The key to achieving your New Year's resolutions is not to get caught up on the idea of ‘New Year’s resolutions’. You are on your own timeline and your goals are achievable whenever you have the time and capacity to put them into place.

If you’re not in the position to commit to a goal come January 1, try setting a different commencement date at a time in the year that suits you and your routine.

Originally published as Only half of all New Year’s resolutions stick. Is it still worth making them?