It’s a brand-new year, and it’s time to turn the page to a fresh list of New Year resolutions. Just like some people, I too have created my own set of goals. One of my priorities this year is to give back to my Firm, P&A Grant Thornton, by mentoring more staff members in-person. I believe that meeting them face-to-face creates an environment where people feel valued. Additionally, I would also like to remain active in my professional and business organisations, as I see this as an opportunity to make a positive impact not just on my mentees but also on my Firm.
But sometimes, staying true to your resolutions can be frustrating, especially when you know you need to start doing things for the better, but temptations get in the way. Other times, people feel stressed and pressured to commit to their list and eventually forget about them. According to a 2024 Forbes Health Survey, 8% said their resolutions have lasted for only a month, 21.9% kept it for two months, 22.2% report three months and 13.1% have committed to it for four months. One thing that helps me fulfill my resolutions is setting clear priorities and making sure I maintain balance by dedicating time to every important aspect of my life—whether it be my career, my family or my community-building activities.
There are several reasons why new year resolutions fail, and it’s important we acknowledge these as we go along the process of accomplishing our goals.
Underlying problems
I have to admit—sometimes the problem lies within us, and we don’t realise it. Staying in our comfort zones and circling back to bad habits are among the reasons why new year resolutions don’t succeed. And most of the time, we’re not conscious enough to notice these because of past traumas.
Turning resolutions into pressure points
Setting goals is a challenge for yourself. But completely ticking off a resolution can be tough when you put pressure on yourself at the slightest failure. Resolutions that are driven by social comparison or trends are even harder to sustain, especially if it doesn’t align with your personal values.
Unclear and unrealistic plans
Resolutions like “get fit” or “be successful” lack clarity, while overly ambitious goals like “lose 20 kg in a month” set people up for frustration. Having multiple resolutions that you want to achieve simultaneously can be overwhelming too. Moreover, listing goals without defining a clear plan on how you want to achieve it leads to inconsistency and eventually quitting.
Some people have stopped making lists of New Year resolutions altogether, often out of frustration from past attempts. But sticking to your goals is possible through different strategies.
Address internal and external problems
When creating a list of New Year resolutions, we look back to experiences that changed our lives, whether positively or negatively, and use those lessons as a guide to identify what we want to improve, what we need to let go of, and what we hope to achieve for the year ahead. With this comes the importance of being honest with yourself and reflecting on the behaviors and habits you need to learn and unlearn in the process of accomplishing your resolutions. Consider talking to a professional, either a life coach, therapist or even to a spiritual coach, to further help and guide you in overcoming past traumas and regressing to unhealthy habits and behaviors.
Personally, when the path to accomplishing my goals becomes unclear, praying makes a big difference for me. Pausing to ask for guidance, strength, and clarity helps ground us, realign our intentions, and remind us that we don’t face life’s challenges alone.
Build a strong support system
Each of us has our own battles, and sometimes when we make changes in our life, we choose to keep them private for personal reasons. But in the process of ticking off your resolutions, it’s helpful to share it with people who understand you and would want you to succeed in achieving your goals. Having someone who encourages you and follows up on your progress can help you stay on track and accountable for your resolutions. Joining a community of people with similar goals as you, such as fitness clubs, prayer groups or mental health support groups, is also beneficial.
Know why you want what you want
Your New Year resolutions should be crystal clear. Be specific with your goals and take time to understand why they matter to you. For example, if your resolution is to “become fit”, ask yourself: What’s driving this? Is it to improve your appearance, or to have a stronger and healthier body so you can better support your family? Having a clear purpose behind your resolutions and aligning them with your values is essential for creating realistic and meaningful resolutions.
Furthermore, a clear, actionable plan is key for achieving your goals. Break down the steps you need to take, outline how you’ll accomplish each, and create a realistic schedule. Remember: building small habits makes big changes. Personally, I try to be consistent and specific in accomplishing my goals by tracking my progress through journaling. It also helps that our Firm has a mandatory individual development plan as part of our performance appraisal process, which serves as our guide in achieving personal and career goals and setting intentional action plans.
Welcoming a new year always reminds us that we are worthy of a fresh start, and it’s among the reasons why we make resolutions to change our lives for the better and prepare for more meaningful experiences and opportunities. However, let’s keep in mind that making significant changes in our lives does not have to always be at the start of the new year. There are 365 days in a year, and each day is an opportunity to reflect, redirect, and renew our commitment to be the better versions of ourselves.
So even if you stumble at your new year resolutions, remember that every day is a chance for you to pick yourself up and keep moving forward until you reach your goals.
As published in The Manila Times, dated on 21 January 2026
