Do You Set New Year’s Resolutions? Why They Fail and How to Be the Exception

by Carrie Cason

Today it is back to the grind.

Kids are back in school. We are back in routine. Alarms are set again, calendars are full, and life feels louder.

I love the stretch of time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Things slow down. There is more margin. More reflection. More breathing room. It is a season that allows space to think about what matters and what needs to change.

But real change rarely starts in January.

Every year, we set New Year’s resolutions with good intentions. I have done it too. And most years, life slowly takes over. Studies show nearly 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions lose momentum by February.

It is not because people are lazy or incapable. I know that feeling well. Worn down. Stretched thin. Running on empty. Life keeps moving, responsibilities pile up, and it becomes easier to pause than to push forward. But if we do not get back up, nothing changes.

I believe in discipline. I believe in mind over matter. I also believe there are days when you feel tired, overwhelmed, or off your game. Growth still requires a decision on those days.

For me, resilience has meant choosing to show up even when I do not feel like it. Intention has meant deciding my direction before my emotions get a vote.

We all carry a lot. Family responsibilities. Work pressure. Stress we do not always talk about. When emotions lead, life feels like a cycle of highs and lows. When intention leads, progress becomes steadier and more sustainable.

That is why I think it is worth asking whether resolutions are really the issue, or whether we need a better way to approach growth altogether.

Resolutions Versus Goals

I believe in goals. I always have.

What I have learned is that resolutions are often fueled by emotion. Goals are built through clarity and follow through.

A resolution is usually tied to a date or a feeling. A goal shows up in daily habits, weekly check ins, and honest reflection.

Resolutions say, this year I want to be better.

Goals ask, what am I doing consistently that supports where I want to go.

That distinction reshaped how I approached 2025.

The changes I made did not happen in January. They happened mid year. Quietly. Intentionally.

I wanted to grow in my faith.

I wanted to lower my stress instead of just managing it.

I wanted to be more intentional with my family.

I wanted to strengthen my relationship with Christ.

I also wanted to grow my business in a more intentional way. Not just bigger, but better. With clarity. With integrity. With systems that support my family instead of competing with them.

Those were not resolutions. They were decisions about direction.

Busy Does Not Mean Productive

Busy does not mean productive.

I have always stayed busy. For a long time, I thought that meant I was doing the right things. But busyness can quietly pull you away from your family, your focus, and the work you were actually created to do.

Being busy can feel responsible. It can even feel successful. But productivity requires intention.

This is a real focus for me in 2026. Doing fewer things better. Being more present. Letting go of control where I need to. Creating space instead of filling every moment.

Productivity is not about doing more. It is about doing what aligns with your priorities and your purpose.

The Boring Work Matters

One thing I keep hearing from mentors and colleagues I respect is that real growth usually looks boring.

There is nothing flashy about consistency. It is showing up. Repeating the basics. Doing the same disciplined things even when they feel unremarkable.

Most meaningful progress comes from a small number of actions done consistently over time. One good choice does not change much. Repeated choices do.

That is why I revisit my goals regularly. Weekly. Monthly. Quarterly. Not to chase perfection, but to stay aligned.

One Thing You Can Do Today

So how do we change today.

It starts with one honest question. What is one area of my life that needs more intention right now.

You do not have to fix everything. You just have to choose one step.

Start with gratitude. No matter the season, there is always something to be thankful for. Gratitude steadies perspective and quiets the noise.

From there, ask one simple question. What is one thing I can do today that moves me in the right direction.

Small steps build momentum. And over time, they change everything.

Teaching This at Home

This is also something I am trying to model for my kids.

Over the holidays, we talked about intention. About knowing what matters and why. About being clear on what we want to grow in and what we want to protect.

We also created vision boards together. Not as wish lists, but as reminders of direction.

They include faith, education, work, family, relationships, and joy. Travel. Experiences. Enjoying the world God created.

Some of those visions are aspirational. That feels healthy to me. I believe it is okay to work hard, steward what you are given, and enjoy the fruit of that work.

When joy is part of the vision, discipline becomes sustainable.