We know that change is hard, and the behaviors people try to change around the New Year are those that tend not to be met with high levels of success--going the gym consistently, stopping smoking, drinking less. Though there are things that we can do to increase the likelihood of meeting New Year's behavioral goals (such as being more realistic), what I really wonder is: What is the meaning of the heightened awareness of behavioral change around the New Year?

The New Year feels like a chance to be re-born. It equals a new life, or so we wish. One way this is often expressed is through the common statement, "I can't wait for 2009 to be over. It was such a bad year. The New Year can only be better." It is as if there is some magic that occurs when December 31st becomes January 1st. I remember hearing this statement last year and thinking (and hoping) that maybe 2009 would be better than 2008 in terms of unemployment and the economy. And while the stock market is above 10,000 we also know that rates of unemployment have only gotten worse in the last year. The last year was not a better year-- at least for the over 15 million people who are now unemployed. So much for wishful thinking!

Regarding personal behaviors, there is really no reason that January 1st should be the date in which we decide to make behavioral changes. In other words, January 15th, March 30th or even June 23rd, could be just as important.

But January 1st, as many of us think about it, shares something quite profound with another holiday, December 25th. As Christians believe, on this day a prophet is born who will ultimately be killed and reborn (over the Easter weekend), as a way to atone for human sin.  As the Christian story goes, the death of Jesus allows us to be "reborn" after death.

And whether or not religion is or is not a part of the equation for those of us who make New Year's resolutions, the whole idea is about getting a second chance, a "do-over," as it were.

And who does not want a "do-over" regarding aspects of our lives that we regret?

We all want a rebirth, and for many people who are confronting aging and unhealthy behaviors, the New Year offers a new chance at change. But the reality is that although the wish for a "do-over" is a powerful and understandable wish, we really can't do our lives over. For example, a person who ate nothing but cholesterol-laden foods for forty years might still have high cholesterol.

And thus, the rebirth we hope for is not really so. But maybe this ritual is needed motivation to help people change unhealthy behaviors. If you have high cholesterol, dietary changes can certainly help manage the disease and prevent complications. However, why can't we be more motivated to change our behaviors at other times of the year?

Moreover, while people, in earnest, might try to change certain behaviors around the New Year, such as reducing or stopping smoking, the advertising companies are one step ahead of us in terms of trying to prevent behavior change. An article in the Journal of Health Communication found that cigarette advertisers step up campaigns during times when people are quitting smoking and undergoing withdrawal symptoms--yes, that means January.

Although a comment on the moral ineptitude of advertising might be relevant here, I think a better point is this: Changing behaviors of any kind should be from the inside, not the outside. Although we know from psychology research that behavior is more likely to change when people have to be accountable to others, it is also the case that behaviors change when people realize themselves that what they are doing is not good for them. The value of New Year's resolutions is that when they come from a desire that is really within (including the reality of potential bodily self-harm from destructive behaviors and the eventuality of death), they are great impetus for change.

Even so, maybe every month of the year should have a date that people can choose to change behaviors. At least there won't be so much pressure, and then people can feel free to try and try again to change the behaviors that so many of us try to manage.