3 Reasons Why New Year's Resolutions Go Off the Rails

Happy New Year! ’Tis the season for big goals. And while I’m not a huge fan of New Year’s resolutions per se, I do understand why people make them. The New Year feels like a clean slate—a chance to start over, reset, and aim high. That said, nearly 90% of Americans abandon their New Year’s resolutions within just a few weeks—about right now, actually. So let’s talk about why that happens, and more importantly, how we can avoid it when setting goals this year.

1. Goals Are Too Lofty. The first mistake I see all the time is setting goals that are just too ambitious, too fast. If someone hasn’t exercised consistently in years and suddenly plans to hit the gym for an hour every single day starting January 1, that’s usually a recipe for burnout—not success.

I admire ambition, but goals also need to be realistic and achievable. I’ve had to gently talk more than one potential client out of signing up for a marathon in four months when they’ve never run more than three miles at a time… and only twice a week.

I’m all for big goals—but they need a solid foundation. Instead of committing to daily workouts, how about aiming for three workouts per week for six months? Instead of a marathon, maybe a 10K race in three months, running four days per week. Once you hit those milestones, then we build bigger goals. Shooting for the moon sounds motivating, but it usually skips a few important steps along the way.

2. Too Many Goals at Once. Another common pitfall is setting too many goals. Running every day, strength training four days a week, waking up at 5 a.m. to journal, volunteering weekly at your kid’s school—these are all great goals. Just not all at the same time.

When everything is a priority, nothing really is.
Instead, choose one goal that truly deserves your focus, and build a clear plan around it. With laser-like attention, you’re far more likely to succeed than when you’re juggling several competing priorities.

3. Focusing on Outcomes Instead of Actions. Finally, many people get stuck focusing on outcomes rather than the actions required to get there. Weight loss is a perfect example. While it’s a common and often healthy goal, it’s not something you can do today.

What you can do today is lift weights. You can follow a solid nutrition plan at your next meal. You can go for a walk. These are actionable, measurable behaviors that—over time—lead to weight loss and, more importantly, a healthier lifestyle.

When we shift our focus to building discipline, habits, and consistency, the outcomes tend to take care of themselves.

As you set your health and fitness goals this year, remember:
Keep them achievable. Keep them focused. And prioritize process over results.
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That’s how we build success—not just in January, but for the rest of our lives.