Why we fail our New Year's resolutions, and how to pick one that works

In just a few days, it will be 2022, and for many, that means this is the week to solidify those New Year’s resolutions. But why is it so hard to make a resolution that sticks?

There are a couple of common pitfalls that people stumble into while trying to find a good New Year’s resolution, according to sports and performance psychologist Dr. Haley Perlus.

Whether it’s choosing a goal that’s astronomically unrealistic, or going into it with failure in the back of your mind, there are ways to combat these problems and keep your eye on the prize.

“Any New Year’s resolution that has any shot of working is one that you are excited about,” Perlus told CTVNews.ca in a phone interview. “And you believe in it — because if you're doing it for somebody else, it won't work.”

The first big mistake, Perlus said, is taking on a resolution that is too huge of a change or too huge of a goal.