Why New Years Resolutions Fail & How To Succeed

Why New Years Resolutions Fail & How To Succeed

by Veritasium

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Personal Development VSPPopular psychologyVSPMAssertiveness, motivation, self-esteem and positive mental attitude
🎙 Veritasium 👥 21.1M 📅 December 28, 2019 ⏱ 10 min 👁 834K 📄 science communication 🧭 2026-08-27
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

resolutionshabitsgoalswillpowerenvironment

Summary

The video discusses why New Year’s resolutions often fail and provides science-based advice for making them succeed. It identifies three main pitfalls: being too ambitious, being vague, and relying on willpower. The presenter recommends starting with tiny, specific goals (e.g., the two-minute rule from James Clear’s ‘Atomic Habits’), writing down goals, and structuring one’s environment to reduce reliance on willpower. He shares his own resolutions for 2020: avoiding news sites, writing in a journal daily, and deleting social media apps. The video also highlights the importance of tracking progress visually and mentions the ‘Every Day Calendar’ as a tool. It cites research showing that only 8% of people stick to their resolutions, but that starting on January 1st increases chances tenfold. The presenter emphasizes that small, consistent improvements compound over time, and that environmental design is more effective than willpower.

140 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The video provides valuable, actionable information grounded in behavioral science. It effectively argues that common approaches to resolutions are flawed and offers evidence-based alternatives. The argumentation is clear and logical, using examples and personal anecdotes to illustrate points. The presenter cites specific statistics and references to authoritative works, which strengthens the credibility. However, the video could benefit from more detailed citations or links to the studies mentioned.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The scientific rigor is moderate: the video references studies and books but does not provide direct links or detailed citations. The sources mentioned (e.g., James Clear’s ‘Atomic Habits’, Cal Newport’s ‘Deep Work’) are reputable, and the claims align with established research on habit formation. The title accurately reflects the content, and the video stays on topic throughout. The presence of a sponsorship segment (Audible) is noted but does not detract from the content’s quality.

156 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which explains why resolutions fail and offers evidence-based strategies for success.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The video cites specific studies (e.g., 8% success rate, 10x likelihood on Jan 1, 40% increase with written goals) and references established authors (James Clear, Cal Newport). The claims are consistent with known research on habit formation and goal setting, though the video does not provide detailed citations or links to the studies.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

  • Audible — Sponsor mention; also references audiobooks 'Atomic Habits' and 'Deep Work'.
  • Every Day Calendar — Product used for tracking progress on resolutions.

Concurring Sources

  • Atomic Habits by James Clear — The video's advice on starting small and compounding improvements aligns with Clear's work.
  • Deep Work by Cal Newport — The video's emphasis on eliminating distractions and structuring environment resonates with Newport's concepts.

Contribution & Novelties

The video synthesizes known behavioral science concepts into a practical framework for New Year’s resolutions. It emphasizes starting small, being specific, and designing environments to reduce reliance on willpower. The personal examples and the use of the Every Day Calendar provide a tangible illustration of the principles.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Atomic Habits by James Clear — The book referenced for habit formation and the two-minute rule.
  • Implementation Intentions — A psychological concept related to specifying when and where to act, which aligns with the video’s advice to be specific.
  • Habit Loop — The cue-routine-reward framework underlying habit formation.

100 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in information quantity, quality, and reliability, with a slightly lower technical level. This indicates the video is informative and trustworthy, but not highly technical, making it accessible to a general audience.

Reliability 8/10

💬 Très positif. Sur les 30 commentaires analysés, la majorité exprime de l'enthousiasme et de l'humour, avec des mises à jour de réussite et des références à la qualité de la vidéo.