Key points

New Year's fresh start energy fades fast when resolutions don’t change daily life.

Our research shows that meaning is the strongest driver of sustained motivation and well-being at work.

Habits rooted in community, contribution and challenge can make 2026 feel more energizing and meaningful.

Every January, people set goals hoping the new year will feel better than the last. We want less overwhelm and more clarity, less friction and more flow. But if you look closely at the resolutions people make—get organized, be more productive, prioritize myself—they tend to point to a deeper desire: to feel better in our daily lives at work and at home. They want to feel more grounded, more energized, and more connected.

Psychologists call this surge of motivation at the beginning of

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