Why We Make New Year’s Resolutions — and How to Actually Keep Them

As the calendar flips to January, many people feel the pull to start fresh. New Year’s resolutions may feel like a modern habit, but the idea has been around for centuries.

The tradition dates back more than 4,000 years to ancient Babylon, where people made promises to their gods at the start of the new year to repay debts and return borrowed items. The Romans continued the practice, honoring Janus, the god of beginnings, by reflecting on the past year and committing to better behavior ahead. Over time, religious and cultural traditions turned the new year into a natural moment for reflection, renewal, and goal-setting.

Today, resolutions are far less spiritual and far more personal — focused on health, habits, finances, and balance.

The Most Common New Year’s Resolutions

Year after year, surveys show the same goals rise to the top:

• Improve physical health (exercise more, eat better)

• Lose weight

• Save more money or manage finances better

• Reduce stress and improve mental health

• Spend more time with family and friends

• Improve work-life balance

• Learn a new skill or hobby

• Quit or reduce unhealthy habits

While enthusiasm is high in January, many resolutions fade by February — often because they are too vague or unrealistic.

How to Make Resolutions That Stick

The difference between quitting early and lasting change often comes down to how goals are set.

• Be specific. “Exercise more” becomes “walk 30 minutes, three times a week.”

• Start small. Big goals work better when broken into manageable steps.

• Make it measurable. Tracking progress helps maintain momentum.

• Tie it to routine. Habits stick when paired with something you already do.

• Focus on progress, not perfection. Missed days don’t mean failure — they mean reset and continue.

• Choose meaning over pressure. Goals rooted in personal values last longer than those based on guilt.

At its heart, making a New Year’s resolution isn’t about becoming a new person overnight. It’s about pausing long enough to ask what matters most — and taking a few intentional steps toward it.

The tradition has survived thousands of years for a reason: people never stop hoping that the year ahead can be better than the one before.