Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail (Even for Smart, Disciplined People)

Chris Deavin
Jan 2
3 min read

Why knowledge isn’t the problem, and how to stop starting over by stabilising how you think about health.

White paper with "New Year Resolutions" text on dark wood, above a marble pen. Mood of reflection and planning.

If you’re reading this as the new year starts, you’ll probably recognise this feeling.

That quiet pull toward January. That sense that the new year will be different.

Not in a dramatic way, just a calm, private decision that you’re going to get back on track with your health, your fitness, your strength. And if you’re honest, this isn’t your first reset.

Today I want to talk about why New Year’s resolutions fail, even for intelligent, capable, disciplined people, and what actually needs to change if you want this year to be different.

The Real Problem

Here’s the first thing I want you to hear clearly. If you’re over 50, successful in your career, and frustrated with your health…this is not because you lack knowledge.

You already know how to eat better. You know you should train. You know what “good habits” look like.

What’s missing isn’t information. What’s missing is consistency, rhythm, and a stable way of thinking about your health that holds up when life gets busy.

After more than 25 years of coaching high-achieving people, I can tell you this with certainty:

When people fall off, it’s rarely a willpower issue. It’s almost always a design issue.

And that shows up in three very predictable ways.

Mistake 1: Overcomplication

The first mistake is overcomplicating everything. Capable people tend to assume that if something matters, it needs a detailed, serious, impressive plan.

So January arrives with:

strict routines
complicated schedules
perfect plans that look great on paper

But complexity creates friction.

Every extra decision, when to train, what workout to do, how to eat “properly”, drains energy. And when work pressure rises or life interrupts, the whole thing collapses.

Not because you failed. Because the system couldn’t cope.

In my coaching, we don’t start by asking, “How hard can you push?” We ask, “How easy can this be to continue?”

Early consistency matters far more than intensity. Twenty percent effort, done repeatedly, beats a perfect plan that disappears after two weeks.

Mistake 2: Relying On Willpower

The second mistake is trying to do it alone.

Willpower feels strong in January. It feels much weaker on a cold, busy Wednesday in February. That’s normal.

High-achieving people are used to managing things internally. Thinking them through. Deciding. Executing.

But health doesn’t respond well to constant self-negotiation. That’s where accountability comes in, not as pressure, but as structure.

In my work as an accountability coach, my role isn’t to motivate you or push you harder.

It’s to help you stay oriented when motivation fades.

Someone else knows what you’re committed to. Someone else notices when things drift. Someone else helps you reset direction without drama.

Accountability doesn’t move you forward. It stops you sliding backward. And that’s often all that’s needed.

Mistake 3: Outcome Thinking vs Identity

The third mistake is the most important one.

Most resolutions are outcome-based. Lose the weight. Hit the number. Finish the programme. The problem is that outcomes have endpoints.

Once they’re reached, or progress slows, the behaviours disappear, and old patterns return. The people who stay consistent long-term think differently.

They don’t focus on what they want to achieve. They focus on who they are becoming.

Instead of “I need to train more,” it becomes, “I’m someone who trains.” Instead of “I should eat better,” it becomes, “I’m someone who looks after their health.”

When behaviour is tied to identity, it stops feeling like effort.

This is a core part of my W.I.S.D.O.M. approach, helping people shift from chasing results to building an identity that naturally supports healthy behaviour.

Stopping feels wrong when identity has changed.

What This Means After 50

After 50, the challenge isn’t capability. It’s continuity.

You don’t need to try harder. You need fewer restarts. The real failure isn’t slow progress. Stopping is.

There is no maintenance, you’re either moving forward or drifting back. The work is learning how to keep moving without turning health into a constant mental battle.

That’s what good coaching and accountability actually provide.

So as this year comes to a close, don’t ask yourself what you want to achieve next year. Ask yourself this instead:

What kind of person am I committed to becoming, and what’s one small action I can take now that reinforces that identity?

Not perfectly.Not dramatically.Just consistently. And if you already know what to do but struggle to follow through, this is exactly what my coaching is designed for.

I work with high-achieving people over 50 who want to stop starting over, build rhythm into their habits, and stay healthy, strong, and fit without relying on motivation.

You can learn more about how I work by going to www.myhealthcoach.online