15 New Year’s Resolutions That Always Fail

Ones That Don’t Identify Their Obstacles

One reason many people’s resolutions fail is that “they don’t work out the resistance around the resolution,” says Miron-Shatz. “For example, there’s no point in deciding to eat less if you feel that food is a major source of comfort,” she explains.

Before making a resolution, try to pinpoint what keeps you engaging in the behavior you’re looking to eliminate. If the source can’t be eliminated—or is even beneficial—you might want to rethink your resolution.