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New Year’s Resolutions: A Psychological Reset
Exploring the drive for self-improvement through a Friends New Year’s scene.
Safa Rubaye, MD
January 02, 2025
Every New Year’s Eve, millions of people promise themselves they’ll eat healthier, exercise more, or finally quit that bad habit. But why is the start of a new year such a powerful trigger for change? In the Friends episode “The One with All the Resolutions,” the characters hilariously struggle to stick to their ambitious goals, but their efforts reflect something universal: the psychological need for fresh starts and self-improvement.
At its core, a New Year’s resolution is more than just a promise—it’s an attempt to reimagine ourselves. Psychologists describe this as the fresh start effect: the belief that a clear, temporal boundary (like January 1st) gives us the chance to separate our past selves from our future selves. It’s a clean slate, a moment when we feel empowered to make changes that align with the person we want to become.
In Season 5 of Friends, the episode “The One with All the Resolutions” perfectly captures this phenomenon. The characters are swept up in the optimism of the New Year, vowing to transform their lives. From Ross’s resolution to “do something new every day” to Chandler’s hilarious attempt to stop making sarcastic comments, the episode offers a relatable (and comedic) look at why resolutions are so appealing—and so difficult to keep.
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