Why Do So Many New Year's Resolutions Fail?

I grabbed a pen and paper, giddy and grinning. It was almost 2020, and a novel decade was upon us. I believe this was the most anticipated year maybe ever. I know one thing- I was ready to soar in like a spear, piercing fiercely with a drive like never before.

I'm sure most of you can relate to this. You're hyped for the start of the year, you're ready for a fresh start, you prepare some ambitious goals, and you feel this surge of motivation ready to explode. If I were to fast-forward the snippet above about six months, I'd be sitting in bed, doing nothing, and most disappointingly, wondering what happened.

Hey guys, my name is Micah, and I have a question for you. We are super pumped and ready to aim for the sky, but sometimes, we fall flat, splatting not even one month in.

Why do so many New Year's resolutions fail?

If you're a Christian, you may write goals like these: Read the Bible daily, work out five days a week, and pray twice a day. By February, you're scrolling on your phone at 7 AM everyday, you forget to pray, and it has been two weeks since you worked out. (This is a hypothetical!)

One meme that some of you may know is the clip from The Lion King, in which Simba the lion cub sits in the valley, horrified as wildebeests, a thousand strong, plow through, almost pounding him to pancakes. I've watched that meme, and it was tied to the idea of the gym being flooded in January and becoming a ghost town by the end of the month.

What's up with this one-month spike that literally dies overnight? How do you sustain it?

Well, I have a root for a solution—or two!

I believe the primary answer as to why resolutions fail is that they lack a why.

Hear me out. Of course you read the Bible to be closer to GOD, but why? Of course you hit the gym to be fit, but why?

I've done some impressive feats, according to my family, friends, and classmates. I've woken up at 3:30 AM every day for school (in 10th grade), and I abstained from 99% of treats, desserts, and junk from October 2021 to late 2023 (to the extent that having a treat surprises some of my family to this day!). I have also kept the Mohawk as my hairstyle for four years straight. I did that amongst a culture where you have to have the trending hairstyle to be "fly" and fit in!

How did I wake up at THREE AM and resist super irresistible treats for such a long time?

I had a why. I had a legitimate reason why I carried out those endeavors. For example, I was probably most passionate about school and rising early in 10th grade, so I wanted to be on my A-game.

GOD's mission across Scripture had a why! You'll often read that He acted "for His name's sake." In Hebrews 12, Jesus, for the 'joy that was set before Him,' did everything He accomplished, leading to the cross. But He's GOD, we cannot compare this to Him.

What's your motivation for your resolution? How does it benefit you or help you progress in life? Maybe ask, "Who am I doing this for?"

If you don't have a real 'why' for what you do, you'll become demotivated and won't end up anywhere!

Another quick reason that springs to mind is that your goal may be unrealistic! You may have the best motives, but if you expect to read the Bible three times a day with a full-time job, or you are a parent with several kids (with their own extracurriculars), hitting the gym five times a week may be far-fetched.

Watch out for the "new year, new me" slogan because character is built over time, not by procrastination. Discipline and motivation have to be your "Batman and Robin," if you will, and in that order. My Bible professor once stated, "Who you are now is who you are becoming." That is profound! So, remember, GOD wants your heart more than a thousand military-intensive, Optimus Prime and Superman-esque feats!

My sister mentioned that she started some of her resolutions early in December, which sets discipline and habits super early, so shoutout to her!!!

When you make a resolution, don't just do it because the calendar changes. I am not against fresh starts, but I heard that a moment of action is infinitely better than a year of perfect planning.

So, when you plan, know your why and keep asking why! Have a reason and don't let it be surface level! In fact, don't just have a reason, have a reasonable reason! Be realistic. You know yourself and your limits as well as tendencies.

I have a few verses that I believe are pertinent, the first being Psalm 37:5.

"Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will act."

The second one is 1 Corinthians 15:58.

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, knowing that in the LORD your labor is not in vain."

With 2026 before us, make sure you truly know your why as you step into the year. Examine your motives and make reasonable reasons. Be thorough with it! If you do it for GOD, bonus points for you because you won't be wasting your time.

What tips and lessons have helped you make better yearly resolutions? Please drop a comment! I'd be pleased to hear from you.

Thank you for reading, I pray you have a GOD-glorifying 2026, and I hope it is blessed.