Why it’s a good idea to make New Year’s resolutions, even if most of them fail
When you want to embark on a difficult project, such as quitting smoking or starting to run three times a week, it’s natural to wonder whether it’s really worth it. For excuses or motivation, some look to science as a source of certainty, and can find support for almost any decision. Studies about keeping New Year’s resolutions suggest that, in the long term, most fail. A classic paper on the subject from 1989 estimated that 77% kept their resolutions for a week, 55% for a month, and 40% made it to half a year. After two years of follow-up, only 19% had stuck to it. More recent data on weight-loss attempts may seem even more discouraging. In the long term, only 5 to 10% manage to maintain their initial reduction, a success rate similar to that of smokers trying to quit.
