I’ve never been someone who has thought about their New Year’s resolutions in the weeks before January 1st. So I might be biased but I think it’s time we stopped with the New Year’s resolutions. Every year the dreaded question comes up, and every year without fail, I try to come up with something that might make this year the best year yet.
Unfortunately, it’s rare that I or anyone else keeps to their resolutions. They set too high of a standard and they create the idea that if you don’t create big lofty goals you must accomplish by the end of the year, you’re somehow lesser or lazy for not reaching your goal.
In addition to the stress of being held to a high standard, we’re still living through a pandemic and likely will be for the coming months. It’s unhealthy to add more expectations for yourself in an already draining time. By allowing yourself room to grow at your own pace, rather than due to society’s expectations, you’ll reach your goals and help guard against a burnout that comes hand and hand with the pressure of living through an already stressful time.
New Year’s resolutions also seem to limit growth throughout the year. We should be constantly growing, rather than deciding to create large and drastic changes to keep for the entirety of a year. I believe that it is more worthwhile to create change in your life as needed. We shouldn’t limit ourselves and an entire year to make spur of the moment decisions. If we were to take charge of our lives and live in the moment, News Year’s resolutions would become obsolete. If you are not happy with something in your life, then simply commit at that moment to change, rather than wait for the new year to roll around.
However, if you are determined to change for the New Year, try to start small. For example, if you wanted to lose weight, you expect to lose twenty pounds in one week! You should allow yourself to gradually work up to your goal, in order to not cause burnout or exhaust yourself! Instead of creating one large resolution for the year, consider creating weekly or monthly goals to reach. This will allow you to make gradual, but noticeable progress, instead of trying to slowly accomplish an exhausting New Year’s resolution!
Again, I am not advocating for not making your life better or changing certain things about your life for a New Year. However, I think that by creating lofty goals that will make this year the year we’re only damaging our view of the present. Live in the moment instead of telling yourself you’ll change. Commit to real change but because you want to, and not because you think you’ll be ostracized if you don’t.
New Year’s resolutions are so last year. If you’ve already made one for this year, don’t worry! Don’t stress yourself out to complete a giant task for the entire year. Allow yourself to breathe, and focus on what makes you feel happy and healthy in the new year!