Forget New Year’s resolutions: Psychology reveals how to rewire your brain for success in 2026

Research shows most January goals don’t stick—but being more intention-based about getting a new job or hitting the gym can help.
January is a time when many people reflect on their goals for the year ahead—a new job, a promotion, hitting the gym, or overall better health—but research from Baylor College of Medicine and psychologist Richard Wiseman shows 88% of people actually fail to achieve their New Year’s resolutions.

New Year’s Day 2026: Are banks, grocery stores, and restaurants open?

A federal holiday means mail stops, banks close, and store hours vary widely.
When the confetti settles and the ball has dropped, many Americans will wake up on New Year’s Day — Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026 — with errands to run, groceries to buy, or just the urge to grab coffee. But because New Year’s Day is a federal holiday, the holiday clock affects a wide range of services differently: some go dormant for the day, others hum along with normal or modified hours, and a few offer the convenience you might need as you kick off the new year.