New year, new me!
The start of a new year presents a natural opportunity for reflection and setting intentions. From life-changing goals to last-minute changes, these resolutions are typically centered around personal growth.
The New Year is notorious for goal-setting, only for those ambitious goal-setters to lose motivation and fail within the first month..
People are more likely to drop their resolutions the second Friday of January, according to Strava, an athlete social network’s 2019 data set off a cultural phenomenon dubbed “Quitter’s Day,”
Olivia Getchell, a freshman criminal justice major, said her New Year’s resolution is to cut out caffeine from her diet.
“I came up with this resolution because I realized my body was relying on caffeine to function, and I wanted to find healthier alternatives for myself,” Getchell said.
For junior criminal justice major Khalil Crumes’s resolution, he said he wants to become the best version of himself mentally, physically, academically and emotionally this year.
“This past year taught me a lot about balance, boundaries, and knowing when to slow down, and that reflection really inspired me to enter the new year with more intention,” Crumes said.
One issue that many resolutioners encounter is overestimating what is realistic for themselves. Robbie Fulen, a freshman philosophy and law major, detailed why this is an issue.
“If you are too ambitious, it makes you feel bad, and you quit too early,” Fullen said.
Emily Fisher, a freshman biology major, used this realization to reflect.
“I usually set big resolutions, and I don’t achieve them, so this year I decided to pick a small one and stick to it,” Fisher said.
For 2026, Fisher’s main goal is to wake up early every morning to get breakfast with her roommates.
“It is also a good way to start my day, and [it] gives me more time to relax or do homework,” Fisher said.
Crumes, however, has another strategy which involves a list of multiple goals.
“When I’m unsure what to focus on, I look back at that list and ask myself, ‘What can I work toward right now?,’’’ Crumes said.
With this list, Crumes said these goals feel more like a guide–with no pressure.
“I keep [my resolutions] broad so that even making progress feels meaningful,” Crumes added.
Staying Consistent
Another difficulty that hopeful resolutioners face is staying consistent.
Fisher reflected on his inconsistency last year, for a task as simple as drinking more water.
“My resolution last year was to drink more water–about 48oz a day,” Fisher recalled. “I didn’t stick to this for very long; maybe about a week.”
Some students find that goals related to their interests have a better chance of making it past January.
“I’ll stick to some of [my resolutions] that are for my passions,” Fullen said. “I like going to the gym, so I’ll set gym goals for the year.”
Part of Fisher’s motivational trick is getting other people involved in his goals.
“This year it will be easier to stick to my New Year’s resolution because I have other people relying on me, not just myself,” Fisher said.
Cultivating a community around a resolution builds accountability, and accountability fosters consistency.
“Accountability makes a huge difference, and having people who check in on you and who you can check in on keeps the goals alive,” Crumes said. “Clubs and organizations have also kept me surrounded by like-minded peers who are striving to grow, not just for themselves, but for the university and the community as well.”
If you already missed your opportunity to make a resolution, don’t worry. Students say it is not too late to start.
Fullen recognized how each year gets busier with age.
“As you grow up, [New Year’s resolutions] become less important, because you’re always working on stuff anyway, and some things take more than a year or shorter than a year,” Fullen said.
“Progress doesn’t have to start on January first; it just has to start,” Crumes added.
Carly Hunter is a writer for The Setonian’s Features section. She can be reached at carly.hunter@student.shu.edu.
