Why Most New Year Resolutions Fail – And What to Do Instead

Every January, millions of people set resolutions with the best of intentions, only to abandon them within weeks. If you’re ready to break that cycle, this 10-step guide gives you a practical, real-life strategy for making change actually stick.

By Carol Evans, Founder of the Ufinity Framework, The Feminine Leadership Code and Magnetic Millions Live

Make Resolutions That Stick in 2026

Why This Year Needs a New Strategy

 As 2026 approaches, your feed is likely full of advice urging you to ditch resolutions altogether:

 “Don’t pressure yourself,” or “who you are is good enough, you don’t need a new you.”

And yes, there’s truth in that. The old way of doing resolutions, full of hype, hustle and unrealistic expectations, doesn’t work.

But here’s what most people miss:

 The New Year is still one of the few moments when our minds and culture naturally support change. Biologically, we crave fresh starts. Socially, we’re given permission to reflect and reset. It’s not pressure, it’s a window of opportunity.

 What’s needed is a better system – one rooted in honesty, strategy, and alignment.

My Wake-Up Moment: The Same Goal Five Years in a Row

A few years ago, I opened an old journal and realised I had written the same New Year’s resolution for five years straight. The words looked strong on paper. I was full of energy each January. But by February? I was back in the same cycle, overloaded, underwhelmed, and secretly ashamed.

 It wasn’t because I didn’t care enough.

 It was because I didn’t have a strategy that could survive real life – sleepless nights, business deadlines, curveballs and the “I’ll start again Monday” lies.

So I stopped setting goals the way the world told me to.

Instead, I started designing my year with the same thought and precision I give to my clients and business.

What came from that? A process that actually works. 

If you’re tired of resolutions that fizzle out, start here:

1. Start With the Truth – Even If It Hurts

 You can’t design a better year if you won’t face where you actually are.

 Ask:

What’s really happening in my life? (health, energy, finances, time)
What am I avoiding or glossing over?
What’s the true cost of staying here another year?

 This isn’t about judgment. It’s about accuracy.

You can’t change what you won’t name.

“Honesty isn’t harsh – it’s the beginning of change.”

2. Decide How You Want Next Year to Feel

 Before setting any goals, ask: What do I want life to feel like by this time next year?

 More calm? More energy? Financial clarity? Less stress? Greater joy?

 Write a short “end of next year” vision: What does a day in your life look like? How do you feel? What have you stopped tolerating?

 If your goals don’t connect to this vision, they won’t survive busy weeks or hard days. 

3. Don’t Set Small Goals. Set Bold Ones – but with Clear Steps

 We’re told to be realistic. But realistic often means playing small.

Stretching yourself isn’t reckless, it’s required.

 Try this:

Bold outcome: “I want to feel strong, fit, and energised.”
Clear steps: “Walk 30 minutes five times a week, lift weights twice, plan meals on Sundays.” 

“Make the plan realistic – not the dream.”

4. Test Your Resolution Against Real Life

Most people act shocked when life gets in the way. Don’t be. Plan for the challenges.

Ask:

When will this get hard? (Mid-February slump? Busy workweeks? Winter blues?)
Am I really willing to do what this requires in March, not just in January?

If not, adjust the goal, don’t pretend you’ll “try harder next time.”

5. Name What You’re Getting from Staying the Same

We all get something from the habits we say we want to change: 

• Comfort
• Control
• Avoidance
• Familiarity

Ask yourself:

 What payoff am I getting from not changing?
What discomfort am I avoiding?
What would I have to give up?

Now flip it:

How can I make the new life more enticing than the old one?

“The biggest block isn’t the goal – it’s what you’re clinging to.”

6. Don’t Plan the Year – Plan 90 Days

A year can be too vague but a quarter is doable.

Try this:

What do I want to have happened in 12 months?
So what must happen in the next 90 days?
What’s my weekly focus?
What’s my “proof move” today?

“This is how you hope becomes momentum.”

7. Make It Easy to Win (Especially When You’re Tired) 

Most resolutions fail at 6pm, not 6am. It’s not willpower. It’s design. So make it work for you.

Pack your gym bag the night before.
Meal prep just enough to avoid crashing.
Decide now what you’ll grab when cravings or tiredness hit.

“Don’t rely on willpower when it’s weakest.”

8. Celebrate Progress – Not Perfection

We’re conditioned to see what we didn’t get done. But that builds shame, not success.

 Instead:

Celebrate tiny wins.
Track what you did right.
Build the belief: “I do what I say I’ll do.”

“Small wins aren’t soft – they’re how you rewire belief.”

9. Wobble? Rehearse the Reset

Missing a day doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It just means you’re human. The key is recovery speed:

Accept it happened.
Don’t make up a story about it.
Restart. Immediately.

“The goal isn’t perfection – it’s how fast you bounce back.”

10. Review Weekly: Keep Your Goal Alive

Set a 15-minute check-in every week.

Ask:

What progress did I make?
Where did I drift?
What’s the one priority next week? 

“If you don’t keep your goal alive in your calendar, life will delete it”

BONUS: Which Goal-Setter Are You?

Recognise your style to improve your results:

The Excited Starter

You love new goals but lose interest quickly.
→ Fix: Fewer goals, visible tracking, 90-day focus, weekly check-ins.

The Avoider

Goals feel overwhelming – so you don’t start.
→ Fix: One tiny proof move. Build confidence through micro-wins.

The Disciplined Doer

You follow through – but it feels joyless or heavy.
→ Fix: Reconnect to your why. Protect energy. Make the process more human.

The Resolution Reset Checklist

Before you commit to any new resolutions, ask:

✅ Where am I – truthfully?
✅ How do I want life to feel this time next year?
✅ What will challenge me – and when?
✅ What do I need to let go of?
✅ How will I make new actions easier?
✅ What’s my 90-day plan?
✅ Who’s holding me accountable (growth, not comfort)?
✅ When is my weekly check-in?

This Year, Don’t Set a Resolution. Design a Life.

 The problem isn’t that we set goals. The problem is that we don’t design the environment, honesty, and support needed to reach them.

 If your strategy finally aligns with your reality, change doesn’t just become possible – it becomes inevitable.

Key Takeaways 

Self-honesty is the foundation – without it, no goal survives real life.

Big dreams need small, trackable actions – combine stretch with structure.

Design beats willpower – make success easier, and failure just a detour.

Top 3 FAQs

Q: I always start strong but fade. How do I stay consistent?

A: Plan for the dip – then reset fast. Use 90-day sprints and weekly reviews to stay on track.

Q: I hate goal-setting. It just stresses me out.

A: Don’t start with goals – start with a vision, then reverse-engineer small proof moves to build belief

Q: What if I fall off the wagon completely?

A: Falling isn’t failure. Recovery speed matters more than perfection. Design your life to support the bounce-back.

About Carol Evans

Carol Evans is the founder of the Ufinity Framework, The Feminine Leadership Code, and Magnetic Millions Live – helping women and mission-led entrepreneurs step into aligned success that actually feels good.