Why Most New Year’s Resolutions Fail — and How to Make 2026 Different + FREE Guide by Karan Kataria, Mental Performance Coach and Social Media Manager

Bergen County Moms
23 hours ago
3 min read

Updated: 1 hour ago

Woman in blue sweater writing in a notebook on a sofa. Background features green plant and cushions with geometric patterns, soft light.

Why do most New Year’s resolutions fail by February? It’s not a lack of willpower — it’s a lack of understanding how behavior change actually works.

Most people focus on outcomes (“I want to lose weight”) instead of the specific behaviors required to get there. Effective goal setting for 2026 isn’t about motivation; it’s about aligning with how the brain actually changes habits.

Neuroscience research, including work by Elliot T. Berkman, shows the brain is wired for the path of least resistance. Old habits are effortless and rewarded. New habits require energy, attention, and have no reward history — which is why most goal-setting plans fall apart.

To make goal setting for 2026 different, you need to master The Will and The Way.

Karan Kataria, the Mental Performance Coach and Social Media Manager from the Lukin Center, has done the evidence-based research and distilled the most actionable insights from studies on goal setting and neuroplasticity into a practical, easy-to-use Blueprint.

Whether your goals for 2026 focus on fitness, career, relationships, or family, this approach works with the brain’s wiring — not against it.

The Blueprint is being offered free, because Lukin Center wants to help people move beyond good intentions and into real, lasting change.

Inside the guide, you’ll discover:

The Behavior Change Equation to identify what’s really blocking progress
An Identity Vault (30 core values) to shift from “doing” to being
Strategies to reduce cognitive load and automate success

Don’t just try harder in 2026. Build behavior change that actually sticks.

If you’re wondering whether there are therapists near you who practice CBT, DBT, EFT, or EMDR, Lukin

Center can help. Their clinicians support individuals, parents, children, and young adults with concerns ranging from complex trauma to anxiety, life transitions, and finding purpose.

👉 Click HERE to access the free Neuroscience-Based Goal Setting Guide and learn more about support options at Lukin Center.

Karan Kataria is the Mental Performance Coach and Social Media Manager at Lukin Center, where he is passionate about communicating the Center’s mission of accessible, evidence-based mental health care. In his role, he manages all social media and content creation across platforms including LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, while also supporting program development and patient engagement. Karan plays a key role in shaping the Sport Performance Program at Lukin Center by creating educational materials and preparing to serve as a presenter in the program’s initiatives.

He specializes in integrating sport and exercise psychology into performance and wellness, with a strong interest in the relationship between mind and body. Karan holds a Master of Science in Sport and Exercise Psychology from Springfield College and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a cognate in Exercise Science from Michigan State University. His graduate research explored how self-talk evolves throughout endurance performance, reflecting his deep passion for the mind-body connection. Dedicated to advancing the field of psychology, he is also applying to doctoral programs in Clinical Psychology. Karan has worked with athletes, teams, and individuals across a variety of sports, providing mental skills training in areas such as self-talk, visualization, emotion regulation, and performance routines. He has also presented at conferences and academic forums on topics including endurance performance and applied psychology, blending his academic expertise with practical applications in sport and mental health. Deeply committed to bridging communication, psychology, and performance, Karan brings creativity, research, and passion to his work at Lukin Center, with the goal of helping individuals strengthen both their mental health and their performance potential.

With offices in Chatham, Englewood, Hoboken, Jersey City, Montclair, Ridgewood, and Westfield, we're here to help. Reach out at 201-849-7085 to discover your best fit therapist.