71: Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work. What works instead?

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Every January, we start with so much hope.

“This year will be different.”
“I really want to change.”
“I just need to try harder.”

And yet… by the end of January, nearly 88% of people have already quit. Only about 8% stick with their resolutions for the whole year.

If that’s been your experience too, I want you to hear this first:

There is nothing wrong with you.

In this episode, I unpack why New Year’s resolutions so often fail—and why it’s not about discipline, motivation, willpower, or personal flaws. It’s a system problem, not an individual one.

I share a deeply personal story about my first failed attempt at meditation while living in Seoul—how I tried all the “right” tools, judged myself harshly when I couldn’t follow through, and completely misunderstood what was actually happening beneath the surface.

From there, we explore the real root cause behind broken habits, chronic busyness, exhaustion, and self-blame:

👉 Your nervous system.

You’ll learn:

• Why behavior hacks, planners, challenges, and productivity tools don’t create lasting change
• How your nervous system is wired to prioritize safety—not happiness or goals
• Why “being busy” can feel safe, while rest, stillness, or self-care can feel threatening
• How early life experiences shape survival patterns that still run your life today
• What actually needs to shift for habits like meditation, exercise, rest, and boundaries to finally stick

I also share real client examples and show how creating nervous system safety—not pushing harder—is the key to sustainable, surprisingly fast change.

This episode is for you if:

• You keep setting intentions but can’t sustain them
• You feel busy, tired, and overwhelmed no matter how organized you are
• You intellectually understand your patterns—but still repeat them
• You’re ready for change that feels supportive, not exhausting

At the end of the episode, I invite you to my free live masterclass:

How to Not to Repeat 2025

3 Internal Shifts for a Different 2026

Happening Jan.20 at 7 pm ET

Use the link to grab your spot:

https://cocoduancoaching.aweb.page/transform-2026-free-masterclass

• Coco Duan helps high-achieving women executives who secretly doubt themselves to build calm confidence and create success that feels truly fulfilling.
• I'd love to invite you to take the next step toward building your calm confidence. Book your FREE one-hour consultation call here: https://calendly.com/cocoduancoaching/1-hr-consultation
• Or email me at [e-mail] with the subject line: “Consultation.”
• Let’s discover what’s possible for you. 💫

• Website: www.CocoDuanCoaching.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cocoduan/