Why Your New Years Resolutions Suck.

Aug 28

New Year, same unrealistic resolutions? Zoë and Kylee dive into the science, myths, and psychology behind habit formation — and why your January goals are destined to flop without a game plan. From ancient Babylonian promises to modern-day Quitters Day, we unpack the history of resolutions, the cognitive biases that sabotage them, and why you can’t willpower your way into a better life. Spoiler: it’s not about losing 20 pounds in 4 weeks or cutting out sugar forever.

Instead, we explore what does work. Learn why SMART goals aren’t just a corporate buzzword and how to set resolutions that actually stick (hint: be specific, not perfect). Whether you’re deep in the cult of optimization or just trying to make it to February with your sanity intact, this episode will help you build habits that last longer than a TikTok trend.

Zoë Rom

Zoë Rom is a science and environmental journalist with bylines in The New York Times, Outside, and High Country News. She co-hosts Your Diet Sucks, an evidence-based nutrition and wellness podcast, with registered dietitian Kylee Van Horn, RDN, where they investigate how wellness culture distorts science and how athletes can do better. A Colorado-based ultrarunner, she finished second at the Leadville Trail 100 and top five at Run Rabbit Run 100. Her reporting and commentary focus on the intersection of sport, science, and the wellness industry's long history of selling women their own anxieties.