Why Resolutions Wash Out - And How to Stick the Landing in 2026

It’s the Dirt Coach here, and I’ll be honest: there’s something electric (or analog for the purists) about these final days of December. For me, it feels like a shot of caffeine—the same surge of adrenaline I get standing at the trailhead with fresh tires, clear skies, and a mountain of ambition. 

This is also the time of year when I typically set New Year’s resolutions. Ride my bike more - get fitter - learn a new skill, the list goes on. Like many who have great intentions, life quickly catches up, and many resolutions end up like a deflated tire on the side of the trail by February. 

Why, though? After all, my energy and commitment are real.   

I’ve studied this a bit as a coach and have learned that resolutions often fail because of a few primary reasons, none of which are lack of willpower, desire, or any other shortcoming you can think of. 

From my experience, resolutions fail due to:

• Vague GPS: “I’m going to get fit.” That's like saying, "Go ride a bike somewhere." Where? What kind of ride? No clear destination means you're just spinning your wheels.

• Unrealistic Climbs: If your goal is to ride your bike 4 days a week, when you’re currently riding a couple times a month, it’s a downhill fire road to burnout. 

• Lack of Why: Without a deep, personal reason behind your goals, motivation quickly fades when things get tough. Side note - it’s going to get tough. 

• Adding, without subtracting: You can’t install a new component on your bike without taking off the old one. Our lives are full, so unless we’re willing to say goodbye to some old parts of us, there isn’t room for new stuff. 

• Lack of accountability: We all need an accountability partner. 

I’m going to take a different approach to goals in 2026 - and I challenge YOU to do the same! Instead of creating a new “To-Do” list, I am going to create a “To-Be” list, moving from the tactical to the transformational. 

Here are the 5 strategies I’m going with in 2026. 

Shift from "Goal-Setter" to "Identity-Owner"

Previously I would have set a goal to "ride my bike more" and possibly signed up for a race as motivation. A person who already owns the “Mountain Biker” identity, simply makes choices that are in alignment. In 2026, stop asking "What do I want to achieve?" and start asking "Who do I need to become to make these results inevitable?" Be that person! For example, instead of Ride 3x a week, my list says Be the kind of person who never misses our Saturday group ride. Trust me, the world will conspire to make it happen.

Audit Your "Internal Terrain"

You can’t navigate a technical descent if you’re gripping the brakes in a panic; you’ll end up over the bars. The same applies to your mindset. If you’re staring at the obstacle, you’re going to hit it.

Identify the thoughts that are slowing you down. What assumptions have you gasping for air before the climb even starts? To make room for a new identity, you have to be willing to strip away the negative thoughts that no longer serve you—whether that’s a limiting belief "I’ve tried this before and missed" or a habit like late-night scrolling. Remember: to upgrade the ride, you have to say goodbye to the old gear.

Navigate by "Values-Based" GPS

Outcomes are an accumulation of all the little decisions we make. If the "Why" behind our decisions are external (ego, expectations, "looking the part"), we’ll run out of juice when the climb gets steep. Connect your aspirations to your values. This way every decision you make will be an extension of your values. This does not make the work easier, it makes it more fulfilling. 

Practice "The Switchback Mentality"

Most trail builders don't have you ride straight up a mountain; you use switchbacks. Release the "all-or-nothing" thinking. Burnout happens when we demand perfection from ourselves. Instead, focus on being resilient. When you bail on a feature, miss a ride, a resilient person doesn't quit; they re-calibrate. How can you be more kind to yourself during the "calibration" moments?

Cultivate "Relational Gravity"

Just like you’re more likely to crawl out of a warm bed for an early ride when you know your buddies are waiting at the trailhead, having an accountability system ensures you don’t bail on your personal growth when the terrain gets steep.

I’m going to leave you with a question to ask yourself all throughout 2026 - "If I were already the person who has achieved this, how would I be showing up right now?"

Happy New Year!