Experts warn New Year’s resolutions may increase stress after holidays

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) – Many of us are ringing in 2026 with New Year’s Resolution, but experts now say some of those goals can add to additional stress and anxiety post-holiday season.

Kathleen Young is the director for behavioral health at Novant Health Family Medicine.

She said it’s great to have ambition, but one thing she hopes others will remember is self-care in the process of achieving these goals.

“One of the things I hear most often clinically when people come to see me is that they feel like they are taking care of everybody else and don’t have time to take care of themselves and so a great thing to be thinking about for a goal is a way to be able to take care of yourself,” Young said.

Young said one key thing to remember when making lifestyle changes is to keep these goals small and over a short time period to increase confidence.