As we approach the end of the year, many of us begin to feel a sense of jitters. This can come from making New Year’s Eve plans, setting resolutions, cleansing our spaces, or simply trying to recover from the holidays before stepping into what feels like a major shift. Scientifically and astronomically, the arrival of a new year marks the moment when Earth completes a full orbit around the Sun (Time and Date, n.d.). However, January 1st as the first day of the New Year—and December 31st as New Year’s Eve—is a social and civil construct established by Western society. In fact, other cultures recognize the New Year on different dates. For example, in Chinese culture, the New Year is celebrated between February 17th and March 3rd during the Spring Festival, which follows the lunisolar Chinese calendar.
I share this to offer perspective on how much pressure we place on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. This pressure often shows up through the expectation of creating New Year’s resolution lists. These lists can help the human brain feel prepared, organized, and ready for the “big change” that society tells us is coming. Neuroscientists have found that the brain uses a process known as chunking to remember information and complete tasks effectively (Li et al., 2016). Chunking allows us to mentally group tasks into manageable pieces—essentially creating internal lists—so we don’t become overwhelmed. This process happens constantly, often without us realizing it, and it helps us stay focused and structured.
That said, our brains can also become overloaded when lists are too long, too broad, or unrealistic. When this happens, lists can create the opposite effect—leading to stress, overwhelm, and discouragement rather than clarity and motivation.
This article isn’t meant to argue whether making lists are good or bad, or whether they are effective or ineffective. Instead, its purpose is to offer a bit of comfort and a gentle reminder that we don’t need to place so much pressure on ourselves as the year comes to a close. Beyond understanding what lists are and how they can be helpful when used intentionally, it is also worth remembering the importance of rest. Moments of stillness, hibernation, and a quiet check-in with our energy and overall “battery charge” can help us reconnect with why we make lists in the first place—not as demands, but as tools meant to support us.
We wish you all a restful, peaceful and safe Happy New Year!
References
Time and Date. (n.d.). What is a tropical year? TimeandDate.com. https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/tropical-year.html.
Li, G., Deng, L., Wang, D., Wang, W., Zeng, F., Zhang, Z., Li, H., Song, S., Pei, J., & Shi, L. (2016). Hierarchical chunking of sequential memory on neuromorphic architecture with reduced synaptic plasticity. Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, 10, 136. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncom.2016.00136
