As a new year begins, many people search for new beginnings through resolutions. It allows a sense of renewed hope to set goals and focus on in the new year. However, what is the likelihood these resolutions will actually be kept throughout the year? What can individuals do to raise the probability of their goals being reached?

Research from a study about 2021 new year resolutions showed 55.3% percent of adults in America claim to have made resolutions for this coming year. Out of these 188.9 million people willing to better themselves in some way, 23.1 million believe that their personal goals are out of reach, including 8.51% of men and 11.34% of women who think they will lose track of their resolution and the 17.7% of men and 9.7% of women who believe their resolutions will fail due to being “lazy.”

2020 gave many people reasons to give up on their goals for the year. Though the majority begin the year optimistic, many do not see their goals reached, which can lead to a cycle of creating resolutions yearly, not fulfilling them, and resetting them the following year. This can create a sense of self-failure leading to a negative start to the new year. 

With the recent start of the new year, many have already created a list of goals, but it is anticipated that many have not yet found their resolutions. When ranking the most common resolutions for 2020, the most popular was split by managing finances better and eating healthier. With a 15.17% increase of people making resolutions for 2021, the top priorities for this year include health followed by self-improvement, then money management.

After a year of such disruption of daily life, it is natural to want to change many habits.  However, if someone is a novice at resolutions, it is imperative to stick to only a few goals. Additionally, being specific with the intention but also its time frame will create a lower probability of procrastination.

For many, their timeline ends December 31 and begins January 1, but it is crucial to be wary of time specific goals so they are not put off until the end of the year. After picking the resolutions, decide how this goal can be obtained and anticipate problems that may be encountered during the process of compilation. Once the calendar flips to January, many realize their easy seeming goals are unreasonable. For this reason, it is key to set obtainable resolutions.  Remember, the process won’t always be easy so returning to the “why” and acknowledging milestones can be significantly helpful. 

Motivation and inspiration are two things that seemed difficult to find in 2020, so make it a priority to meld these into the resolutions for 2021. If nothing else, this will be the most important fundamental to the longevity and success of the goals for the upcoming year. With these approaches in mind, create 2021 resolutions with the intention of making this year the best one yet.