Many people begin a new year with a list of goals and resolutions. Goals can vary from going to the gym more often to eating healthier to learning a new hobby. However, most of the time these goals don’t last more than a week for many people. There are many factors as to why this is.  

The most common day for people to give up on their new year’s resolutions is the second Friday of January. This day is commonly known as “Quitter’s day”. Often times, people set goals without a set ending or a realistic way of achieving them, which is why they don’t end up reaching those goals. If there isn’t a set ending for a goal, it is extremely hard to stay motivated. Including numbers or dates into your goals can help people stay consistent and motivated.  

Another reason for giving up on new year’s resolutions is because goals are often set unrealistically. People get frustrated and quit when they don’t see results immediately. It is too “outcome” focused, rather on the behavioral side of it. It is important to think about why the goal was put in place instead of immediately seeking results.