New Year, new you.
It’s what behavioral scientist Katy Milkman of the University of Pennsylvania calls the Fresh Start Effect, the way that certain days inspire us to start a new routine. It could be your birthday, or the start of a new school year, or just a Monday. But the effect may be strongest at New Year’s, with its emphasis on resets and resolutions.
I’ve been known to make a few resolutions of my own, and
even to stick with some of them. But the good news is that if things don’t work
out after January 1, there are other New Year’s days that offer a chance to start
anew.
Orthodox Christian faiths, for instance, still adhere to the Julian calendar, which means that they will celebrate New Year’s on January 14, 2026. If you need another month to gear up for your fresh start, Chinese New Year begins February 17. The Persians have you covered with a March 20 date if you’re looking for a spring reboot, and the Bengalis offer an even later option on April 15. If you make it to the fall still looking to begin again, the Jewish new year starts September 11 this year.
Just as there is no one way to count the passage of years,
there is no one way to choose or achieve the goals a new year (of your
choosing) may prompt. January invariably brings a flood of articles that aim to
provide guidance and encouragement for aspirations big and small, but any day,
week, or month can herald a fresh start.
Whatever new chapter you start in 2026 (or the year of the
horse or 1385 or 1433 or 5787), you have 365 days to get it written. Let your
journey begin.
Are you planning on a fresh start for a new year?
