The idea of setting personal commitments or goals at the start of a new year is a concept familiar to many people in the United States. In fact, according to a Washington Post poll, approximately 48% of U.S. adults created at least one resolution at the start of 2026. However, while the new year brings a fresh boost of motivation, it’s a common trend for most people to give up on their resolutions by February. Indeed, because of this pattern, people call the second Friday in January “Quitter’s Day.” However, before looking into the science behind resolutions and their short-lived nature, we first have to look at where these resolutions originated.

New Year’s resolutions date back 4,000 years, when the ancient Babylonians became the first recorded people to celebrate the New Year in a 12-day religious festival known as Akitu. During this festival, the Babylonians crowned a new king and thanked their deities for a bountiful harvest and new farming season. Additionally, they promised to their deities to pay their debts and return borrowed objects. From these promises arose the concept of resolutions. 

Today, rather than promising to deities, people make promises to themselves. The majority of resolutions focus on health, exercise, or diet. Others focus on finances, relationships, personal interests, and careers. 

As New Year’s resolutions are typically based on self-improvement and changes in behavior, they can be difficult to achieve. Transforming resolutions into habits requires willpower and long-term internal motivation. People instinctively shy away from change, so to change current behaviors, focusing on the “why” is crucial. Why do I want to do this? Why does it matter? These questions can help people stay on track with their resolutions.  

To make attainable resolutions, start by brainstorming goals that are big but breakable into small steps. Do you want to run a marathon? How about losing 10 kilograms? Give yourself a big goal and create a plan to achieve it through schedules and specific actions. Again, remind yourself of the “why” behind this resolution. Lastly, remember to compliment yourself and give yourself rewards to boost your motivation! Nothing brings more joy than a day of rest after a week of difficult work. 

In the end, New Year’s resolutions embody the idea of personal improvement. Middleton High School students are also embracing this concept in their own resolutions for the year. Vivian Feng, a junior, is hoping to work on several resolutions of her own.

“For the New Year, two goals I’ve been focused on are fixing my sleep schedule and being more focused while doing homework, studying, and practicing my instruments,” Feng said. 

Shivani Haker, a senior, also created resolutions based on improving and expanding health-based habits.

“[For my resolution] I said I wanted to start sleeping more,” Haker said. “Probably by drinking less caffeine and going to bed earlier. I was getting like 5 hours [of sleep] a day.” 

Whether you want to focus on your health or your academic career, resolutions can become an idea of steady progress rather than perfection.