As January dawns, millions across the UK pledge to transform their lives with New Year's resolutions, yet the vast majority are destined to fail within weeks. New insights from a health psychologist suggest we are setting ourselves up for failure by choosing the worst possible time of year to enact major change.
The Winter Slowdown: Why Our Bodies Resist Change
While humans do not hibernate like some animals, our physiology undergoes a significant seasonal shift. During the long, cold winter nights, our bodies naturally slow down. Reduced exposure to sunlight leads to lower melatonin production, which can leave us feeling sleepier and more lethargic.
This biological adjustment has tangible effects: our metabolism can slow, sometimes contributing to winter weight gain, energy levels dip, and mood often follows suit. Despite this innate winter slowdown, the demands of modern life—from busy jobs to family commitments—rarely lessen, creating a clash that leaves many feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
Spring: The Natural Time for Renewal
Kimberly Dienes, a lecturer in clinical and health psychology at Swansea University, offers a simple but powerful solution: save your resolutions until the spring weather arrives. Her research indicates that feelings of stress and overwhelm decrease as the days lengthen and we emerge from this state of mild hibernation.
By March, with more daylight and a body that is naturally becoming more active, you will have a far higher chance of success with what she terms "gentle spring resolutions." However, Dienes cautions against replacing winter ambition with spring over-exertion. Our bodies still need time to recover from the winter dip, so setting realistic, achievable goals is key to not setting yourself up for another failure.
The Stark Statistics of Resolution Failure
The conventional wisdom of a "New Year, New You" is starkly contradicted by the data. It is estimated that around 80% of New Year's resolutions are abandoned by the end of February. This high failure rate is not merely a lack of willpower but is deeply connected to trying to fight our own biology during the most challenging season.
Embracing this cyclical understanding of our energy could revolutionise how we approach self-improvement. Instead of viewing a lapsed January gym membership or a forgotten diet as personal failure, it can be seen as a misalignment with our natural rhythms. The most effective new year's resolution, it seems, might be to grant ourselves patience and plan to start afresh with the season of growth.
