Every year when Jan. 1 comes around, people around the world resolve to better themselves, whether it’s exercising regularly or saving money. However, after that first month, the complaints arise: “It’s too hard! I can’t stick to this!” Despite the difficulty of following through on a goal, the new year offers a chance at growth and improvement of life. It’s up to the resolver to make it happen.
“I made a resolution to cross train more for dance, and to make my own food instead of school lunch,” junior Anabelle Morales said. “I just want to feel stronger in dance, and everyday life.”
Morales hopes to be one of the few that commits to her goal. A staggering 92% of American adults will not follow through on their resolution, according to Drive Research. The main contributors are poor goal-setting and discipline, but some might not even frankly strive for change.
A whopping 62% of Americans feel pressured to make a resolution, which contradicts the ideology of resolutions in the first place. They should be made because the resolver truly wants change, not because they “have to” for the New Year.
Sophomore Iney Bitner disagreed with the concept of resolutions altogether. “People struggle with being consistent with their goals…they get bored of it, and they want to go back to living that can be easy, and just doing whatever they want,” Bitner said. “If you want to improve yourself, just do it at any time of the year.”
It’s true that change can–and should–come at any point of the year. Waiting around for the New Year to start won’t be effective. But the New Year simply offers a push in the right direction; a fresh slate to start off on the right foot.
Resolving to lose 100 pounds or exercise seven days a week aren’t sustainable goals. A successful resolution should be set with ambition, but also realism. Breaking up enthusiastic goals into smaller steps creates an easier path to change.
“Do it in small steps and work up to what you really want to do,” Bitner said. “People make a huge goal for themselves, at the beginning of the year, and they don’t realize that it’s kind of unattainable.”
Another way to stick to resolutions is to properly plan your journey. 30% of resolutioners used habit-tracking apps, and 35% used a variety of planners of journals. Sophomore Hudson Pell-Gibson used this strategy while creating his goal to stay more organized. He advised on another form of accountability as well.
“Have someone keep you responsible, like have a friend or someone who can make sure that you’re actually sticking to it,” Pell-Gibson said.
Keeping resolutions is definitely a challenge for many. But setting goals also offers an opportunity for lasting change. Over half (57%) of successful resolvers see the impact of their goals lasting into the next five years. To create this change, one only needs to take the first step.
While change can–and should–come any day of the year, New Years offers a fresh start to truly stick to a goal–and make each year better than the last.
