Let’s be real with each other…on January 1st, you were probably the same you that you were on December 31st.That same you also knows that New Year’s resolutions straight up suck. I would like to talk to the person who decided on this “new year, new me” crap.
But just like most of society, year after year I make a New Year’s resolution, and year after year, I forget about it a month or two in—and that’s during a good year. The problem with New Year’s resolutions is that the idea of a new year dissipates by the end of January, and most of us forget what we had even planned to do as a new year resolution.
Personally, I have seen the greatest changes in myself when the motivation comes naturally to change, not because some month happens to be ending. But I decided to give 2018 a shot and made a pretty basic all-inclusive resolution to live in the moment rather than worrying about everything and anything.
I think the best way to venture into New Year’s resolutions is to make them simple. The simpler a resolution is, the easier it is to incorporate it into your everyday routine.
I asked some of my friends what their New Year’s resolutions were and almost all of them said their resolutions were to lose weight, workout, and eat healthily. In one group chat right after I sent the text, “what’s everyone’s new year’s resolutions?” I got a reply within 30 seconds that read, “just to lose weight again but I like to eat so that’s not happening.” That basically describes how most people feel about New Year’s resolutions– they aren’t worth it.
That’s why, as one of my other friends had said, “You have to make [resolutions] gradual changes that aren’t impossible to do.” For me, coloring, creating a gratitude journal, and doing a face mask a few times a week helps me meditate and not worry so much about college.
Take my brother’s New Year’s resolution as an example of a resolution that can’t happen overnight. My 14-year-old high school freshman, hockey player brother decided in 2018 he was going to give up pizza. Just like that, he decided on December 31, 2017, that pizza was not going to be part of his life anymore. To preface this, let me tell you that pizza is the easiest meal to get in between hockey practices for my brother, not to mention he eats 5 slices in one sitting. He decided to give up his favorite food to be healthier. (I’m still convinced that he got confused between Lent and New Year’s resolutions). Long story short, January 2, 2018, we had pizza for dinner and after staring at it for a few seconds, he gave up on his resolution because it was too difficult. You may ask “why he didn’t decide to just eat less pizza?” I don’t really have an answer because I’m not too sure either.
That’s why I’m so against resolutions; everyone thinks that they have to go above and beyond to change their lives in one night. If we all made simpler resolutions that can actually become part of a daily routine I think everyone would feel more accomplished a few months into the new year.
For me, I guess, New Year’s resolutions can be met if they are gradual and simple, but I’m still working on them. As for my 2018 resolution, I think I’m still going strong on the whole “living in the moment” thing.
My advice for you would be to just take more chances in 2018 that make you happy and you’ll find that being the best you is the best new year’s resolution around.
Cheers to 2018!
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Cover photo via Elisha Weinberg