Many people have heard of Quitter’s Day, a
national day on the second Friday of January. This day
was identified in 2019, marking when approximately
80% of people who create New Year’s resolutions give
up on them.
Excited about the new year ahead, many are
ambitious with their resolutions, leading to a mas-
sive drop in motivation after the initial weeks of the
new year. Creating resolutions for a new year still has
benefits, but how one intends to pursue or complete
these goals is important. Resolutions typically focus
on improving health, bettering mindsets, or creating
stronger habits.
How ambitious should our resolutions be?
How effective are resolutions? Can they have long-
term changes? Faculty and students at Friends shared
their resolutions in an attempt to answer these ques-
tions.
Numerous WFS students see the new year as
an opportunity to create resolutions and goals beyond
academics.
Vincent Jackson ‘27, says, “I think it’s a good
idea for people to have resolutions, because it gives
them something to strive for in life…My main New
Year’s resolution is getting a main role in a show.” Vin-
cent’s love of theater led him to choose a resolution
that focuses on his interests outside of school.
Students take different approaches with
resolutions, as some, like Vincent, opt to create a reso-
lution with a set goal that has a single objective and a
clear finish. Alternatively, resolutions can be a process
that progresses throughout the year and can eventual-
ly become a long-term habit.
Vincent says, “Finding a sport that I enjoy
has become a habit, because now I play tennis.” From
a resolution a few years ago, Vincent found what has
turned into a long-term passion.
Creating resolutions that are measurable is
vital to the process of self-improvement. Motivation
to pursue a resolution can come from envisioning
a feeling of satisfaction after completion. Research
shows that setting New Year’s resolutions is a posi-
tive way to start the year. The ‘Fresh Start Effect’ is a
psychological phenomenon that motivates people to
work on their resolutions after a considerable holiday,
like the beginning of a new year. Studies have shown
that the ‘Fresh Start Effect’ has allowed many to let go
of past mistakes, and to set goals that they stick to; a
new mental time period creates positive growth.
Leon Jackson ‘27, an avid supporter of
making New Year’s resolutions, says, “I recommend
that people make resolutions, because if you follow
through with them, it feels really good, and you feel
accomplished.”
To be satisfied, a person must know what
they have done to complete a resolution.
Avery Krasulja ‘26 says, “I want to be
open-minded and try new things this year.” She
continues by explaining the importance of creating a
measurable goal that can form daily habits. “A small
resolution I made a long time ago was making my bed
every day. That is now a habit and part of my morning
routine,” says Krasulja.
Recent research shows that only about 30%
of adults consistently create New Year’s resolutions.
Within that demographic, New Year’s resolutions are
most popular among young adults, with 49% of 18-29
year-olds making resolutions. So what’s up with adults
and their goals?
Sara Woodward ‘12, a WFS
science instructor, says, “I previous-
ly made resolutions about cooking
for myself instead of constantly
ordering takeout.” Like many,
Woodward has made resolutions
that will positively impact her
health. However, she’s honest about
the occasional ambitious nature of
her resolutions.
Woodward is not alone in
WFS faculty, as Katy Kenney, 9th
grade English teacher, additionally
notes that she makes resolutions,
but is not always devoted to keeping
them.
Kenney says, “I like to call
them intentions instead of reso-
lutions…One of my resolutions is
to visit the Philadelphia Museum
of Art every month.” Resolutions
that allow one to spend time doing
something they love, or that en-
courage self-care are always import-
ant.
Kenney goes on to say, “A
few years ago, I intended to read for
an uninterrupted hour on week-
ends, without my phone, or any
other distractions.” Now, she never
goes through a weekend without a
dedicated hour of reading.
Woodward also success-
fully implemented a measurable
New Year’s resolution into a habit.
“I wanted to spend less time on my
phone before I go to bed, which I
have been strong with since I start-
ed plugging my phone across the
room,” she says.
Additionally, both Kenney
and Woodward set teaching-based
resolutions at the beginning of
each school year. However, Kenney
says, “Winter break is also a great
time [to set teaching resolutions],
because it is structurally built into
the calendar.”
Winter break can be
a valuable time to reassess, but
summer provides a similar oppur-
tunity, according to Woodward. “I
think summer is a great time to set
personal goals since that is when I
have more free time,” she says.
However, Woodward em-
phasizes the importance of setting
realistic goals and, “creating goals
that align with your values.” She
mentions how social media may
intertwine with resolutions, saying,
“People set fitness goals because
of an ideal body that they saw on
social media, instead of prioritizing
fitness because of its benefits on
your health.”
Even if resolutions for
some have become a New Year rit-
ual, where a person sets one or two
generic goals, resolutions allow for
reflection and a challenge. Both fac-
ulty and students at Friends create
resolutions to build habits, improve
on habits from the past years, or
achieve a personal ambition.
Resolutions typically go
on the back burner or are entirely
forgotten after January. Howev-
er, when created effectively and
realistically, New Year’s resolutions
have the potential to achieve true
growth. Despite the symptoms
‘Quitter’s Day’ discouraging new
resolution-makers, these goals still
provide encouragement and moti-
vation for future accomplishments.
