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December 31st • Psychology & New Beginnings

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is the last day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, December 31st. In many countries, New Year's Eve is celebrated with social gatherings, during which many people dance, eat, drink, and watch or light fireworks. Today, we debate the psychology of new beginnings, the success and failure rate of New Year's resolutions, and why we feel the need to reset our lives every 365 days. Is January 1st truly a fresh start, or just another day?

Spectacular fireworks over a city skyline at midnight

Speaking Discussion

  • What is your typical way of celebrating New Year's Eve? Do you prefer a quiet night or a big party?
  • In your opinion, why do most New Year's resolutions fail within the first few weeks? How can we make them more sustainable?
  • Do you think that the pressure to have fun on New Year's Eve is too high? Does it often lead to disappointment?
  • Is there a specific tradition in your culture for welcoming the new year (e.g., eating 12 grapes, wearing a certain colour)?
  • How much of an impact does the fresh start mentality have on our motivation and goal-setting throughout the year?
  • If you could sum up your goals for the coming year in just one word, what would it be? Why that specific word?

Activity 1: The resolution Consultant

The Task: You are a Life Coach. You need to help a client turn a vague resolution (e.g., i want to be healthier) into a SMART goal.

What are the specific steps you would suggest?

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

  • "The best part of a new year is..."
  • "I think resolutions are..."
  • "In my opinion, the pressure to party is..."