Jan vs March: Who are you at different times of the year?
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Every January, millions of us show up like new people. We’re gym-goers, early risers, budget masters, detox devotees, only for that energy to fade fast. Turns out there’s real psychology behind this yearly personality shift. Researchers call the start of the year a “fresh start” moment: a temporal landmark that makes us feel like we can leave past habits behind and become a new version of ourselves. That sense of a clean slate gives January a motivational pump that most other days don’t have.
But here’s the catch: most of that motivation isn’t backed by habit or structure. Studies show that up to 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions are dropped within the first month, largely because we set ambitious goals without the systems to support them. And another trend in psychology suggests it’s not just about willpower, it’s about readiness, planning and the way habits are formed over time. Jumping straight into big change on January 1st often means we’re not truly prepared for the effort required.
No wonder so many of us are a different person in January, enthusiastic, hopeful, even a little extreme, only to see that version fade by March. It’s not just about losing steam; it’s about how we approach change and why the calendar alone isn’t enough to sustain it.
We asked you: Who are you in January that disappears by March?
Here's what you had to say...
But here’s the catch: most of that motivation isn’t backed by habit or structure. Studies show that up to 80 percent of New Year’s resolutions are dropped within the first month, largely because we set ambitious goals without the systems to support them. And another trend in psychology suggests it’s not just about willpower, it’s about readiness, planning and the way habits are formed over time. Jumping straight into big change on January 1st often means we’re not truly prepared for the effort required.
No wonder so many of us are a different person in January, enthusiastic, hopeful, even a little extreme, only to see that version fade by March. It’s not just about losing steam; it’s about how we approach change and why the calendar alone isn’t enough to sustain it.
We asked you: Who are you in January that disappears by March?
Here's what you had to say...
