January has a way of convincing people they need to overhaul their entire lives overnight. In public health, we see how that pressure often backfires. Big resolutions rarely stick when life gets busy, stressful, or unpredictable. What does make a difference is building small, realistic habits over time. As we start 2026, the Middlesex-Essex Public Health Collaborative encourages community members to approach New Year’s resolutions with compassion, practicality, and sustainability.