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Retreat 2024

This year’s retreat of the SFB 1280 took place on 02.09.2024 and 03.09.2024 in Duisburg. We thank all participants! At our meeting, our subprojects reported on their results, theses and research practice, presented new research directions and developed ideas for the future. In addition, the SFB elected its board and committees (Gender Equality & Early Career Researcher), celebrated outstanding achievements of its members (among others awards for the SFB 1280 Cerebellum Club as well as the SFB 1280 ReproducibiliTEA) and looked back on the milestones achieved so far in a large poster session. At the crossroads of the Rhine and Ruhr, thoughts and ideas crossed paths – with a view to the next funding period, the individual projects were able to share and discuss their visions. We are delighted with the lively exchange, the cooperative spirit in the SFB and the commitment of all the new committee members!

Impressions from the retreat:

The new committee members:

Early Career Researcher Council: Annalisa Lipp (A13), Beray Macit (A13), Nicolas Diekmann (F01) & Robert Reichert (A01)

Equal Opportunity Council: Dominic Pundt (A10), Genisius Hartanto (A10) & Katharina Koch (A10)

New to the Managing Board: Nikolai Axmacher (A02, A03, F02) & Christian Merz (A09)

New Year, New Me: The Facts

As the calendar turns to a new year, millions of people around the world commit to New Year’s resolutions, making promises to use the new year as a fresh beginning and an opportunity for transformation. In 2024, almost three-quarters of the British population set themselves New Year’s resolutions — that’s around 40 million people (or the entire population of Canada). This tradition was particularly strong among younger generations, with 96% of Generation Z (aged 18-27) planning resolutions, compared to just 35% of the Silent Generation (aged 79+).

Most common new years resolutions:

  1. Saving more money (52%)
  2. Eat healthier (50%)
  3. Exercise more (48%)
  4. Lose weight (37%)
  5. Spend more time with family/friends (35%)

How long do most resolutions normally last before being broken?

  • Data from America (2016) shows that 75% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first week. 
  • 64% of individuals maintain their resolutions through the first month. 
  • 46% of individuals in America keep their resolutions past the 6-month mark.

What makes resolutions stick?

Oscarsson et al. (2020) conducted research into what makes New Year’s resolutions stick. Biggest success rates depended on how people phrased their goals. Participants who set approach-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) than those with avoidance-oriented goals (trying to move toward or maintain a desirable outcome or state) were significantly more successful (58.9% vs. 47.1%) at sticking to their goals.

The study also investigates the effects of outside support. These participants received monthly follow-ups and emails with information and exercises for coping with hurdles when striving toward personal goals, and were also encouraged to set goals using the SMART technique and to set interim goals. The group that received some support was exclusively and significantly more successful compared to the groups who received a lot of support or no support at all. 

Additionally, you might feel more successful if you set goals that are measurable in numbers. While success for a person striving to quit smoking or lose weight could easily be measured in the number of cigarettes smoked or body mass index, the success for a person striving to “take better care of themselves” could be highly subjective and possibly impossible to measure.

So as we enter 2026, let’s remember to work with our brain’s natural learning system: Frame your goals positively, break them into manageable steps, and celebrate small wins along the way.