New Year’s Resolution Hard to Keep for Most

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Why Are New Year’s Resolutions So Hard to Keep?

Every January, we set out with determination, vowing to make life better. Whether it’s eating healthier, changing habits, saving more money, or breaking bad patterns—we all want to start the year off right.

As Oprah Winfrey said:

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”

But is that outcome truly possible?


Intentions vs. Reality

By the time February hits, most resolutions have faded into memory. Life gets busy. Stress piles on. That strong start is slowly replaced with old routines and new distractions.

So the question is—can we truly change, or is it just wishful thinking?

Here’s an inspiring reminder from Alfred Lord Tennyson:

“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering ‘it will be happier.’”

Hope alone isn’t enough—but hope combined with action can work wonders.


What Really Holds Us Back?

The biggest barrier? Fear.

We cling to the familiar, even if it no longer serves us. Our brains are wired to resist change. Doing things a new way takes effort and often brings discomfort.

But the truth is—growth demands risk. Staying in your comfort zone only guarantees more of the same.


Change Happens When You’re Ready

When you reach a point where you’re truly ready to act—change becomes possible. Just think:

  • The way you think today is different from how you thought 5 or 10 years ago.

  • Every experience, lesson, and piece of knowledge shapes you.

  • You’re evolving daily, whether you realize it or not.

The secret to keeping your resolution?
Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for small, intentional progress.


Change Is a Process, Not a Moment

Saying “change is impossible” just isn’t true. What trips most people up is expecting overnight transformation.

Lasting change takes:

  • Commitment

  • Consistency

  • Self-compassion

Let go of the anxiety. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks. Remember: every step forward counts—even the small ones.


What Will You Transform This Year?

Your journey doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Maybe it’s about healing. Maybe it’s about building. Maybe it’s about slowing down.

Whatever it is—own it.

🌟 What big change do YOU want to make in 2025?
Share it in the comments below. Let’s grow together.

71 Comments

  1. We are constantly changing. Every thought we have, everything we see, hear, feel or do in some degree changes us. It might be a very very small change, but it is a change. I am different now than I was when I started this paragraph. But bigger changes often take a commitment. I am not a big New Year’s resolution person, but I am a believer in making positive changes. Like all people, I have found both success and failure in making change. I wish I knew the secret trigger in my makeup that helped me succeed vs. the times I have failed, but it isn’t a simple formula. Fear certainly plays a part…especially when deciding what to change and how to go about it, but it is not the only factor. I believe that we have sub-conscience triggers buried within us. Finding those triggers is the key.

    • Josh
      There are some people who never change. They stuck in the same rut afraid to explore. New Year resolution no one every keep. It’s a mindset tradition that most people never follow the right way. If we embrace changes slowly and not let our fears get in the way, we will grow.

  2. Great article, Patrice! I’ve decided not to make unrealistic “resolutions” for the new year, but when I’m ready to change a habit that I’m not happy with, I’ll do it on my own terms. Like you said, change can be scary, but in the end, it will be all worth it once you see the positive results.

  3. Yes, it is hard to make a change unless your mind is made up, and you are focus then changes will become accessible. Let us be committed to what we believe in that another easy way to make changes.

  4. My whole life has been built on change. As a foster child it seemed that I almost never got unpacked and it was off to another foster home…while that is not exactly how it happened, it was a constant life of change, schools, friends and family. As a chef I was always training new young cooks as they worked towards their goals. Peoples eating habits change. What was popular a couple of years ago is not longer popular today. What was thought to be healthy is no longer in the lime lite. Now I am retired…guess what, This month we have listed our home in Wisconsin for sale and are moving to our home in Mexico… I speak “stumble along” Spanish and will be 75 years old in another month…..Change happens, Goal setting makes it happen a little easier. Great article thanks for sharing.

    • Chef William Chaney, Change and embracing change is not an easy task. You are a leader in your field moving forward to new beginning retirement. Time to embrace the culture and continues to provide healthy lifestyle with food to your new audience in Mexico. Thank you for your support.

  5. I think it’s all about baby steps. You can’t just jump right in with some things, you know?

  6. Hi Patrice, I like the ideas of resolutions and plans. For me, I constantly have goals and things I want to achieve and that’s my approach to life and every new year, work hard towards every goal 🙂
    Happy New Year!

  7. It is so true that fear plays such a big role in our life and how we view change. I try to do something every month that makes me scared and uncomfortable but that I know will be good in the long run.

  8. I bookmarked this article to reread it when I start to slip on my resolutions. I read once that a definition of a New Years Resolution was a list you make for the month of January. I’ve got a huge list this year. Fingers crosses I can do better than last year.

  9. I Love Creating Huge Resolutions and 10x the actions to realize them. People have a fear of the unknown and change…yet change is the One Constant thing in Life…We are born helpless, little we change and grow into adults without doing a thing about it..we wake up daily a little older a little different..Yet we have an unnatural fear for taking on new or things we need to for a better life. I embrace Change I embrace New years Resolutions. They aren’t hard for me to keep coz I create them from a place of Accomplishment and gratitude. For a new opportunity to create something new in my life!

  10. It takes about 21 days for something to become a habit. Sticking to it is hard, but if you can get past the first 21 days it will be easier!

  11. This post makes perfect sense. Of course, we don’t follow through because we don’t really love the idea of doing them and then there’s fear as well. We’re always careful and afraid to take risks. That’s a huge hindrance for change.

  12. New years resolutions are tricky because people think they need to be grand and meaningful which leads them to pick things that they either can’t do or aren’t willing to make the change to do. i like to think of resolutions as wishes

  13. Hey Patrice,
    Its familiar to divulge from the ‘strong’ resolutions made at the beginning of the year. Yes, fear often keeps us from achieving what we ought to do. However, to keep my resolutions for 2016, I have made a vow to be highly disciplined with commitment and dedication.

  14. If we talk about resolution,we somehow touch habits. One of the reasons why they failed with their new year’s resolution it’s because they haven’t change their habits

  15. We never set resolutions as a family. We set meaningful and manageable goals we know we can reach. We find this works better for our family.

    Thanks for Sharing.

  16. I’m not usually afraid of change. I do find myself being much more cautious though, as I get older. 😉 I don’t make resolutions usually, but do appreciate that the new year is a good reason to get moving on things you’ve wanted to do. 🙂

  17. I couldn’t agree more that fear holds back. I want to take big steps with my blog this year and be fearless in it. We also are looking into IVF and adoption and fear most definitely rears its ugly head in that process.

  18. I think New Year’s Resolutions are dumb. I don’t do them. I have goals, but I always have goals. I’m always on to master the next thing I want to learn about.

  19. I find it hard to keep with my new year’s resolutions but what motivates me is the reward of accomplishing something you put your heart into.

  20. This is so true Patrice! The biggest thing holding me back from accomplishing things is fear, but I’ve been working hard to overcome that and embrace change! Happy New Year!

  21. I generally don’t aim for great transformations. It’s not out of fear, but out of a knowledge that I grow best when it is incremental and something my mind can believe and accept. With that said, though, I feel 2016 is going to be a year of growth and expansion. I am working at building my online presence and finishing some books that I’ve been writing.

    Thanks so much for linking up at The Blogger’s Pit Stop!
    – Marie, Blogger’s Pit Stop crew

  22. I think that the problem with New Year’s resolutions is that they are frequently wishes for what we’d like to become in the new year. I prefer to create specific goals, then follow up and keep track of them through the year.

    Thanks for sharing on the Blogger’s Pit Stop.

  23. I think my saving grace is that l do not make resolutions in the new year. I’m not sure why people leave things till then rather than making changes as soon as it is needed. We all know most people fail at it. It’s become almost a “thing” 🙂

  24. I’m done with New Year’s resolutions and more into building on what I accomplished in the previous year. For me, this way of thinking is so much more effective.

    LiveLifeWell,
    Allison

  25. I agree that fear can be paralyzing. I rarely make NY resolutions anymore. Instead, I just set certain goals for myself and week-by-week, I outline the steps to achieve those goals until I’ve reached them.

  26. I’ve learned that change is good, and I’ve definitely been embracing it! It can be hard to keep up resolutions, but if you make a conscious effort to make a change in your life, then you should be able to achieve your goals. I agree with you that fear can hold people back from changing.

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