January is the month of resolutions. Hitting the gym, improving your diet, organizing your finances, or resuming postponed projects usually marks the start of the year for millions of people. However, this initial momentum rarely sustains as the weeks go by. There is a clear explanation for this phenomenon from psychiatry and neuroscience: how the brain functions in the face of motivation and novelty.
For Gabriel Fernando Oviedo Lugo, Psychiatrist and Director of the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, The beginning of the year is a strong symbolic impulse. “There is a very human phenomenon related to the expectation of change. The beginning of the year creates excitement and a feeling of control over the futurethat activates brain circuits of reward and anticipation, especially in relation to novelty,” explained the expert The time.
This initial activation leads to enthusiasm, energy and a willingness to initiate change. The brain responds positively when it imagines desirable scenarios, such as: better physical condition, economic stability or new personal projects. However, this reaction is not permanent.
One of the most visible examples is the increase in people in gyms in January. Registrations increase significantly, but weeks later the number of visitors drops. According to Oviedo, this fall is not due to a lack of character or discipline. “The initial motivation is temporary. When the novel component disappears and routine, effort and discomfort appear, the brain no longer receives that initial reinforcement, and if there is no established habit, behavior tends to decline,” he points out.
From a neuroscientific perspective, dopamine plays a central role. Oviedo clarifies that this neurotransmitter is more related to search and the anticipation of the goal rather than the persistence of achieving it. “Dopamine modulates exploration and motivation, but consistency depends on other factors such as repetition, structure, and emotional regulation,” he explains.
The specialist also warns about a common confusion: I think that these processes are accompanied by extreme spikes in dopamine. “Natural rewards such as setting goals or improving habits lead to moderate and physiological increases in dopamine. High peaks are mainly observed with psychoactive substances or some behavioral addictions,” he clarifies.
From a psychological perspective, relying solely on motivation can have emotional consequences. “If a person requires major changesJust from the initial enthusiasm, repeated frustration, guilt, anxiety and a feeling of inadequacy can arise, which affects self-esteem,” warns Oviedo.
The recommendation from science is therefore to rethink the way in which goals are set. “People need small, concrete and realistic goals. Healthy change does not depend on being motivated every day, but on being motivated Building habits and creating conditions that sustain the behavioreven if the enthusiasm wanes,” he concludes.
*By Samuel Amisadai Rosales Rosales
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