A New Year, A New Kind of Resolution

Here we are at the start of 2022—a new year, a new beginning, a new kind of resolution.

Our brains like new starts. A 2014 study from the Wharton business school called it “the fresh start effect.” They defined this as a landmark moment in which we take an accounting of ourselves. We relegate imperfections to the past, take a big picture view of our lives, and come up with new, aspirational behaviors.

The new year is one such landmark moment (as may be the start of a new day, week, month, and s...