It is that time again: a fresh start and an optimistic outlook on the endless possibilities and opportunities that come hand-in-hand with a new year. With 2017 gone and the whirlwind of memories that were a part of it, 2018 presents all of us with that special chance to reflect upon ourselves and what we want with our lives. Are we genuinely happy with what we are doing and who we hang out with? Am I the best version of myself that I can be? What can I improve that I am not content with? Whatever your goals or resolutions may be for the new year, now is the time to turn these thoughts into realities.
Although many people decide to set goals for themselves for the new year, a majority of them do not actually follow through with them. There is nothing more relatable than vowing to be more healthy and then rushing over to get a quick bite at Taco Bell before class. It is hard to stay committed to such a thing when there are so many temptations, not just external sources, but also the temptation to just relapse into old habits. Like they say, “Old habits die hard,” and I feel that this saying has never been more applicable than during New Years.
I have fallen prey to this year after year. Last year my goals were to go on social media less frequently and to start exercising consistently. Where am I now, you may ask? Scrolling through my Pinterest and saving five minute ab workouts to my board, all the while knowing that I will forget to look back at them the minute I exit the application.
This year, I refuse to let that happen to me again. I swear to make 2018 the year of me. In fact, 2018 should be the year of all of us. 2018 is the year we stop letting laziness and procrastination drive our lives and halt our progress. Go out and eat more fresh produce and less junk food. Learn that language you have always dreamed of being fluent in. Try out that sport that you have been dying to play. We cannot let ourselves settle for mere satisfaction when we know there are ways that we can make ourselves happier and feel more fulfilled.
On top of aiming to improve aspects of our lives that we are not happy with, 2018 is also the year to appreciate the aspects of our lives we are happy with. Even though you may be wanting to lose weight and get that Instagram fitness model body you have been longing for, do not put yourself down during the process. Do not tell yourself you are fat or that you have to lose weight in order to feel better about yourself. Instead, acknowledge the parts of your body that you love and those you might have some qualms with. Although you may not have rippling abs, you have killer legs and the brightest smile around. If you cannot love yourself now, losing weight does not guarantee that all of a sudden you will love every inch of yourself. Take time to focus on yourself, take some ‘me time’, and establish a positive outlook and mental state before diving into any resolutions. The stronger you are mentally and emotionally, the better than chances of actually achieving your goals and making lasting change. Resolutions are not meant to be changing ourselves into completely new people, but instead to become the best version of ourselves that we can realistically be.
With all that said, resolutions are not needed in order to have a productive and successful new year. New Year’s resolutions are not for everyone, and they can be quite discouraging and disappointing if they do not come true. That disappointment can lead to self-destructive thoughts, and the last thing needed to start 2018 off with is a negative outlook. If resolutions just do not sound appealing, do not make any if they are not your thing. After all, the whole point of the new year is to do what you want to do and what makes you happy.
That being said, I personally have some resolutions to aspire to this year. On my plight to be more fit, I am carving out time to workout at least four times a week and scouring Pinterest for healthy meals that I can easily recreate. I am going to call my family more often and talk to my friends from back home on a regular basis. I am going to start my journey to become trilingual by taking college courses. But above all, this is going to be the year I will make it a priority to focus on myself and decide what it is I want to do with my life and my future career.
So after all of this, is it truly a New Year, new me? Let’s instead call it: New Year, happy me.