The new year rings in all kinds of hopes and dreams for students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. But sticking to those lofty goals can prove to be a harder challenge, especially when temperatures drop below freezing. So what makes a goal stick or slip?
Some UW-Madison students are implementing unique strategies like scheduling and routine to turn their resolutions into habits that hold.
For freshman Nicole Appiah, journaling helps keep her on track with her goals. On Sundays, she reflects on her week and plans for the next writing down her tasks to combat procrastination. “I stick to Google Calendar,” she said.
In addition to Appiah’s goal to purge her procrastination, she holds a few personal resolutions. In 2026, Appiah aims “to be more intentional with how I present myself, pay attention to myself more and to be kind to my mind.”
While academic goals are at the front of the minds of UW-Madison students, Mackenzie Sterud is seeking new experiences this year. She said “saying yes to everything, rather than staying in and closed out” will allow her to seize every opportunity thrown her way.
While some people prefer to keep their goals private, others seek out friends and family to keep them accountable.
UW-Madison student Jacob Woolery said his friends help him stick to his goals in the gym while he sets aside study time to achieve his academic endeavors.
Having people in your life to support you or even work towards goals alongside you can relieve some of the pressure. “It makes it a lot more fun,” Woolery said.
Appiah looks to her mom for inspiration. “She's a very goal oriented person…I try to adopt the little things she does to keep organized,” Appiah said.
But 12 months is a long time to stick with something. It might feel easy to keep a resolution for a couple of weeks, but when school ramps up and life throws obstacles in your way, the likelihood of dropping that goal from Jan. 1 skyrockets.
The novelty of resolutions can quickly wear off. UW-Madison student Ella Collinson, who aims to read more in the coming year, admits she often fails to keep her resolutions because they don’t form into habits.
However, Zachary Johnson, a UW-Madison student who is set on taking the Graduate Record Examination this year, proposes another strategy to keep your resolutions in the hefty span of a year. He suggests having deadlines throughout or “pieces within the goal, like stepping stones to try to keep part of a track or a path.”
This year, Johnson recorded his goals in the form of a bingo card, a social media trend his girlfriend saw online. He hopes this fun and manageable approach will keep him accountable toward reaching his goals.
Whether your goals stick or slip, making resolutions creates space for a fresh perspective and a chance to start the new year off on the right foot — but remember not to be too hard on yourself if they don’t work out.
“If you go back to old habits, don't beat yourself about it …just find your way back to your goals,” Appiah said.
