We’re two weeks from 2026. Social media floods with “New Year, New Me” content. But research shows that 92% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. Before setting 2026 goals, let’s understand why most fail and what actually works.
The Thread We’ve Been Building
Over recent weeks, we’ve discussed academic integrity in the AI age, South Africa’s positioning at the G20, and our collective responsibility to end gender-based violence. Each conversation revealed something crucial: success requires more than good intentions. It requires systems, accountability, and understanding why we do what we do.
Now, as 2025 draws to a close, we’re applying those lessons to goal-setting.
Why Most Resolutions Spectacularly Fail
Research published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology identifies fatal flaws in typical resolutions:
Too Vague: “Get healthier”, “do better in school”, “save money”. Studies show vague goals lack the specificity needed for action. Your brain doesn’t know what “healthier” means in practical terms.
Outcome-Focused, Not Process-Focused: “Get a job,” “lose 10 kg,” “get better grades.” Research demonstrates that outcome goals fail because you can’t control outcomes, only actions. When outcomes don’t materialise quickly (which they won’t), motivation dies.
Identity-Disconnected: “Be a different person.” Studies show that goal-framing you as inadequate creates shame, not motivation. Shame paralyses; identity empowers.
No Accountability Structures: Secret goals stay in your head, where they’re easy to ignore. Research shows that social accountability increases achievement rates by 65%.
All-or-Nothing Thinking: One slip means total failure, so why continue? Studies reveal that people who practise self-compassion after setbacks return to goals faster than those who engage in harsh self-criticism.
The South African Context
Research on goal-setting in high-stress environments (like SA’s 31.9% unemployment) shows that realistic, incremental goals outperform ambitious, overwhelming goals. When external circumstances are uncertain, internal control becomes crucial.
Studies demonstrate that young South Africans who set “controllable goals” (actions within their power) report higher well-being and achievement than those setting “outcome goals” (dependent on external factors like job markets).
This is being strategic. You can’t control whether you get hired, but you can control whether you apply to five jobs weekly. You can’t control your final grade, but you can control attending all classes and seeking help early.
What Research Shows Actually Works
Systems Over Goals: A landmark study showed that focusing on systems (daily habits) rather than outcomes (end results) yields 300% better long-term adherence. Instead of “get fit”, create a system: “gym every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 AM”.
Why this works: Systems are controllable. You can’t force yourself to lose weight, but you can force yourself to show up. Research shows that consistent action eventually produces outcomes, but focusing on outcomes without systems produces stress.
Implementation Intentions: Research demonstrates that specifying when, where, and how dramatically increases success rates. “I will network” fails. “Every Monday at 8 PM, I’ll contact one professional on LinkedIn” succeeds.
The key is removing decision fatigue. Studies show that when you pre-decide the specifics, you don’t waste willpower on “Should I do this now?” You just execute.
Identity-Based Goals: Research published in Atomic Habits studies shows that framing goals around identity (“become someone who…”) is significantly more effective than behaviour-change goals.
“I’m becoming someone who values financial literacy” beats “I need to budget.” The first changes how you see yourself; the second is a chore you’ll avoid.
The Connection to Everything
Remember our ChatGPT discussion about academic integrity? Your 2026 goal isn’t “don’t cheat”. It’s “I’m becoming someone who values authentic learning because that builds skills employers actually want.”
Remember the G20 conversation about career opportunities? Your goal isn’t “get a job”. It’s “I’m building a network by reaching out to one professional monthly, because 80% of jobs come from relationships.”
Remember the GBVF discussion about social responsibility? Your goal isn’t “be better”. It’s “I’m becoming someone who challenges harmful attitudes in my peer group because culture changes through individual actions.”
For This Week
Don’t set any 2026 goals yet. Instead, reflect: what 2025 goals did you set? Which ones worked? Which failed? Why? Research shows that analysing past failures predicts future success better than motivational enthusiasm.
Bring those insights to next week’s blog. We’re building your 2026 blueprint together.
References:
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (2024). “Implementation intentions and goal achievement”
- American Psychological Association (2024). “Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail: A Meta-Analysis”
- Clear, James (2024). “Atomic Habits: Systems-based goal research”
Leave a Reply