We all know that feeling when the clock strikes 12:00 AM on January 1st, and a whole new year steps upon us. You check your phone and witness a sea of notifications from your group chats and family members. For a moment, everything feels… possible. All your mess-ups and bad habits remain “last year’s problems.”

Even if nothing actually changed overnight, the date does something to us. A new year is a mental checkpoint. It gives us permission to “turn over a new leaf,” and become better versions of ourselves without being chained to regret.

And somewhere between loud New Year’s parties and the first Monday back at school, the same question shows up again and again: should we make ourselves New Year’s resolutions, or are we setting ourselves up to quit by February?

Will resolutions stick?

Here’s my honest take. Resolutions mostly work for a specific type of person, people who already have some discipline, structure, or consistency when it comes to achieving goals.

One Quartz Hill High School IB senior said, “In general, I don’t think they are effective because most people lack the discipline to actually follow through with them.”

That’s the heart of this issue. The New Year can inspire temporary change, but discipline is what makes it last and truly worthwhile.

Then, how can you sustain them?

Part of the reason resolutions collapse is that people make broad goals without a plan. “I will be healthier.” “I will become productive and get all A’s.” Cool, but what’s your plan?

Quartz Hill High School senior Sofia Serrano shared resolutions many of us have ourselves: “I want to eat healthier, exercise more, and read more books.” However, she emphasized the need to “make resolutions practical and really think about the hows and the actual process of a goal, rather than envisioning the end product.”

Another reason resolutions often fail is when you look for a total life transformation rather than minor adjustments.

Quartz Hill High School senior Krishna Zafar explained goals that promoted balance and self-honesty, “I want to work hard and excel in school while also meeting new people and having the best enjoyment this last year.” He added, “Small reachable milestones will lead to bigger goals. Sort of like a water droplet in the ocean. It’s all about setting small goals that add to the bigger picture.”

How do you continue to stay motivated throughout the year?

February rolls around. This is the time most people want to give up and revert to their old ways.

“You should be easy on yourself if the goal is difficult to reach; always give yourself time,” Serrano said. A resolution that cannot withstand some setbacks was never realistic in the first place. Thus, instead of going with an “all-or-nothing” mindset, think that even if you miss once, you can always take time to readjust and get back on track.

So, will New Year’s Resolutions stick for you? They can, but only if you treat the New Year as a catalyst. The date could give you momentary motivation, but the follow-through comes from structure: the practical steps, the smaller milestones, and the ability to keep going even when you don’t feel like it.