Are New Year’s resolutions bad?

The tradition of new year’s resolutions dates back for centuries, with the chance to self improve and set goals. But they are also criticized as ineffective, short lived and even counterproductive. Whether or not resolutions are bad, however, really depends on whether they are approached in the right way, and whether they are realistic, actionable and actually meaningful.

Here’s a balanced take on the reason why New Year’s resolutions are deemed bad PLUS strategies on how to make them more helpful than harmful.

Sometimes New Year’s resolutions are considered bad.

1. Unrealistic Expectations is what they set.

Too many people set themselves goals that are way too big, without a plan of how to get there.

• Why It’s Bad: This is the kind of resolutions that end up frustrating, burn you out, and cause you to quit early.
• Example: Deciding to run a marathon in two months without ever hitting the pavement to jog is, well, too much to ask.

Solution: Break down large goals into smaller manageable steps. Fix My Life AI is a great platform to have actionable plans according to what the your starting point is.

2. They instill pressure to change.

New Year brings along with societal pressure to set goals, even when you don’t want or aren’t ready.

• Why It’s Bad: You cannot accomplish resolutions that were made out of obligation, but out of the desire to actually getting them done.
• Example: Going to a gym because it’s fashionable in January, but not sticking with it through the rest of the month.

Solution: Never set goals that you don’t care about. Think about what relates to your values before deciding to commit to resolutions.

3. Perfection bores the hell out of them

Often resolutions rest on allornothing thinking, and setbacks can lead to backlash.

• Why It’s Bad: Missing a workout once can lead to stopping the goal entirely.
• Example: One week of missing saving money and declaring yourself a failure.

Solution: Be flexible and error proof. It should be about making progress and not striving for perfection.

4. They’re Often Vague

The resolutions, like, “be healthier” or “save more money” are useless because they are too broad, impossible to chart, and hard to define as being a metric for success.

• Why It’s Bad: As you can imagine, vague goals are easy to forget and easy to ignore.

Solution: SMART goal (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) should be used. An example is, instead of “be healthier” commit to “exercise 30 minutes, three times a week.” Fix My Life AI is one of the tools that can help you structure your resolutions.

5. They’re Short-Lived

Apparently, most resolutions last only three months. The Journal of Clinical Psychology discovered that simply 9% of us attain our New Year’s resolutions.

• Why It’s Bad: Having short – lived goals can be a dispiriting experience – you can look at it and feel frustrated and think that you’re a failure.

Solution: Instead, try to build sustainable habits that can support your journey instead of quick fixes. On platforms like Atomic Habits, they keep talking about creating small consistent changes that last.

New Year’s resolutions can actually be good.

While you may be up in arms against New Year’s resolutions, if you take them seriously, they can be an incredibly powerful tool for self improvement.

1. They Encourage Reflection

Resolutions urge you to think about what you want to change in your life and what priorities you’d prefer.

• Example: If you reflected on your health, and set a resolution of wanting to drink more water every day, you wouldn’t be in a better place.

2. They Provide Structure

Planning helps us set our goals with visions and stay motivated on track for a whole year or a year long.

• Example: That $1,000 resolution to save $20 a week over the year is structured and achievable.

3. They Inspire Motivation

Taking action is always easier when you know you’ve got a fresh start, which the New Year can provide.

• Example: Setting your sights on starting a fitness routine in January can help you start with a new clean slate and form long term fitness habits.

Ideas on How to Make Your New Year Resolutions Work

1. Start Small

Try to make only one or two meaningful goals in place of trying to change your whole life 100% at once.

2. Track Your Progress

If you need help, use Fix My Life AI or an app such as Strides to make sure that you’re working towards your goals and staying motivated.

3. Celebrate Milestones

Small wins recognise that you are going in the right direction and reinforces positive habits.

4. Adjust as Needed

The resolutions need to be flexible. You can’t predict what life might throw your way, so your goals should reflect that.

How Fix My Life AI Can Help

Fix My Life AI offers a range of features to make resolutions more achievable:

• Vision Boards: Imagine your goals as it will keep you driven.
• Goal Tracking: Track your progress and show yourself what you have achieved.
• Customizable Plans: Having a few resolutions that you can break down into actionable steps tailored to you is great.
• Daily Motivation: Get to receive personalised reminders or tips for staying on track.

Conclusion

New Year’s resolutions aren’t inherently wrong, but they can be ineffective or discouraging if we set them up as fantasies of attainability or fill them with nebulous wording. Set intentionally, resolutions can be a massive force for the building of better habits and implementation of positive change when done thoughtfully.

Focusing on realistic actionable goals and using tools such as Fix My Life AI will help you make your resolutions something you will be able to follow through with. And you just have to get over this mentality that you have to be perfect, or you have to do it properly, you have to do it perfectly — it’s all about progress.

ADDITIONAL READING

Life Goals Examples for Adults to Set in 2025

Why Is a New Year’s Resolution Important?

Are New Year’s Resolutions Effective