Whether or not you make a New Year’s resolution is up to you. Some people do and heroically stick to them; other fail after the first few months. And then there are the ones who think about making them, and the ones who never do.
Setting goals is the easy part. Keeping them, not so much.
According to a poll by Ipsos, 80% of Canadians have failed to keep their past resolutions, and only 22% report ever successfully keeping all of them.
I like to place myself in that last group. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but I do set myself a personal goal or two; something that’s a little more achieveable and doesn’t require me to give up anything—at least not for too long, like dry January.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a New Year’s resolution as a promise to do something differently in the new year
Interestingly, research highlighted by Statistics Canada and the University of Manitoba suggests that physical health and weight loss are the most popular Canadian goals, yet these are often the first to be abandoned, with many people “throwing in the towel” by early February.
This is consistent with research conducted in the U.S.
Why is this so hard?
It could be you have low willpower, your goals are too vague or maybe you’re just not set up for success? Here’s a little research to back this up.
The lack of willpower
According to Ipsos data, 76% of Canadians who failed their resolutions cited a “lack of willpower or motivation” as their primary obstacle. We often treat willpower as a constant, but it is actually a finite resource that drains throughout the day as we face stress and decision fatigue.
The goals are too vague
Common resolutions like “get healthy” or “save money” aren’t specific enough. Without a clear definition of success or a measurable roadmap, your brain struggles to execute the goal. Research shows that specific, measurable objectives (SMART goals) are far more likely to stick than general intentions. Coincidentally, I talked about SMART goals in my January 2025 blog: New year, new goals. Check it out!
All-or-nothing thinking
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CAMH) notes that setting unrealistic, “perfect” goals creates immense stress. When Canadians adopt an all-or-nothing mindset—like “I will never eat sugar again”—a single slip-up feels like a total failure, leading to a complete abandonment of the goal rather than a simple correction.
Missing “replacement” plan
You can’t just “delete” a bad habit; you have to replace it. Behavioral science suggests that our brains are wired for loops (Cue → Action → Reward). If your resolution is to “stop snacking at night,” but you don’t have a plan for what to do when that hunger cue hits, your brain will default to its old wiring. I once wrote a speech for Toastmasters on the Habit Loop. If you’re interested in how to do it, check out The 5 Triggers That Make New Habits Stick by James Clear.
Neglecting the environment
The University of Manitoba research suggests that resolutions often fail because people don’t change their surroundings. If you want to eat healthier but keep your pantry full of ultra-processed foods, your environment will eventually override your intentions. Although I’ve removed most of my sweet and salty treats, if I look hard enough, I can find some. If I give in to my temptation, my good intentions go out the door!
If a New Year’s resolution is on your mind, go for it—set yourself up for success with a clear plan and watch it come to life. You’ll be so glad you did!
Writing for you. 