Q&a / How you can make your New Year’s resolutions stick, according to a mental health expert
If your resolutions are already faltering in February, worry not – there’s always Chinese New Year, and Hong Kong’s Sonia Samtani is here to help
Every new year, many of us set resolutions, whether it’s to finally use that long-neglected gym membership or to be more careful with money. Yet statistics show that few manage to keep their resolutions, and most abandon them by the year’s end.
Why do New Year’s resolutions often fail?
Because people try to change their behaviour instead of their behavioural patterns. Resolutions focus on what to do differently – eat better, go to the gym, speak up more – without understanding why we behave the way we do. Every behaviour is a response to something deeper; it’s linked to needs and emotions we haven’t addressed.
Burnout happens when we don’t know when to stop. The solution is boundaries. Many people link self-worth to performance, believing that doing more makes them more valuable. When you detach worth from productivity, you can push yourself intentionally without overdoing it. Boundaries let you move forward with purpose, not pressure.
What tips would you give to someone setting their New Year’s resolutions?
1. Make your resolution positive. Focus on what you want rather than what you want to avoid.