The Surprising Reason Why Winter is the Worst Time for Resolutions: A Better Approach

Why Can’t I Stick to a New Year’s Resolution for More Than a Few Weeks? The Case for Long-Term Thinking in Student Athlete Performance and Health

Auld Lang Syne—an anthem for fresh starts. Something about the end of one year and the beginning of another stirs hope for new beginnings. Maybe it’s the champagne or being arm-in-arm with loved ones, but there’s a collective sense of renewal as the clock strikes midnight. And with that renewal comes the ever-popular New Year’s resolutions.

These resolutions sound perfect on December 31. A new year, a new you. Then, reality hits—often in the form of a January 1 hangover, short winter days, and waning motivation. By February, many find themselves slipping back into old habits. Next year, right?

But what if the problem isn’t the resolution itself but the timing? The short, cold days of winter make it tough to sustain the energy needed for change. What if, instead of waiting for the calendar flip, we shifted our focus to a time when energy and daylight are abundant?

The Mid-Year Resolution: Timing Is Everything

June 21, the longest day of the year, provides the perfect opportunity to embrace change. The sun shines longer, temperatures rise, and there’s a natural boost in energy for most people. What if, instead of looking at your goals like a sprint, you treated them like a marathon, pacing yourself and planning for the long term? This approach isn’t just about creating resolutions—it’s about embracing a mindset of consistent progress.

For student athletes and their parents, this approach can transform performance and health over the long haul. Why wait for a New Year’s resolution that fizzles out by February? Instead, think about your goals as a race.

Think About a Race—For Sports Performance and Health

Athletes, when you step onto the field, track, or court, you know it’s not just about how you start—it’s about sustaining energy, staying focused, and finishing strong. The same mindset should apply to how you approach both sports performance and long-term health.

It’s tempting to hit training hard with bursts of enthusiasm—think of those New Year’s resolutions. But just like how an athlete can burn out if they train too intensely without rest, life goals often require balance, pacing, and the Minimum Effective Dose (MED). Instead of going all-out and crashing, apply the concept of MED: doing just enough to stimulate progress without overreaching.

Consistency over intensity wins the race. Think about sustaining progress for decades, not weeks.

Parents, this same principle applies to you. Your health and fitness are not just about short-term goals but setting yourself up for longevity. When you think about your fitness as a marathon, you’ll find that steady progress adds up. You’re not just training for today or next week. You’re training for the next 10, 20, 30 years—so you can stay active with your kids, be there for your grandkids, and enjoy life well into your golden years.

Building Strength and Health Together

For student athletes, sports performance isn’t built in a few weeks—it’s built over years of consistent training, adapting, and progressing. The same goes for parents. Health and longevity are not the result of short, intense bursts of effort; they’re the outcome of regular, intentional actions over the long term.

Whether it’s strength training, improving endurance, or fine-tuning mobility, the goals for both athletes and parents should center around small, manageable actions that build over time. The goal isn’t to be perfect every day—it’s to show up, put in the effort, and think about the long game.

So, this year, instead of making another fleeting resolution, think about it differently. Make a Mid-Year Resolution—and think of it not just for the summer, but as a commitment to progress throughout the year and beyond. Whether you’re on the field, in the weight room, or in your daily life, keep your eyes on the bigger picture.

As MC Hammer once said, make this resolution “2 Legit 2 Quit.”

You’ve got this. Let’s make every day count.

By approaching your goals as part of a long-term race, both athletes and parents can build sustainable habits that lead to lasting success—on and off the field.