With every new year comes another lousy list of things that people want to implement into their lives to make it the best year yet. Maybe you're going to start eating healthier since that worked out so well the 9,000 other times you tried to do it. Maybe with this new year you're going to call your mom more...since she's probably tired of getting texts from you because she knows you're low on money. Perhaps you caught the travel bug and you want to travel more, which we both know is not going to happen because you're probably in college and swimming in debt. Whatever the case may be people decide that with this new year they are going to change into a "better" version of themselves. New year, new me right? No.
According to ABC News, the top New Year's resolutions for this past year were:
1. Enjoy life to the fullest.
2. Live a healthier lifestyle.
3. Lose weight.
4. Spend more time with family and friends.
5. Save more, spend less.
I know that everyone always wants to make changes in their lives to improve their health or their mental well-being but why wait for a "New Year" to make that change? Why not just start now? There's no time like the present. Don't get me wrong, I'm all about changing my lifestyle to make myself happier and improve my outlook on life. However, I don't see why we have to wait until a new year to do all of it.
As humans, for some reason, we always need a motivator of some sort to get anything done. We can't just do it because we want to. We need to find an excuse for everything we do. Why can't you just wake up one day and decide that you want to start thinking more positively? Of course not, you have to use your cousin's comment that she made about how you're always a negative Nelly as a means to back your sudden decision to improve your outlook on life.
Do you really have to wait for a new year to decide that you want to start spending more time with your friends and family? You should already be doing that. When all is lost you still have family. Don't take them for granted. Go give your sister a hug and tell her you love her even though she stole your favorite sweater.
If you're going to decide to join a gym and workout more then stop putting it off, put the junk food away and go! Don't wait for the ball to drop to decide to spring into action. Studies show that 80% of people who join a gym in January with the intent to fulfill their New Year's resolution to get fit, actually quit within five months. In fact, about 4% of new gym junkies don't even make it to the end of January and about 14% percent drop out in the beginning of February. Come on guys, I believe in you!
Instead of waiting for January 1st to try and change your life just go out and start now. There's nothing stopping you from starting a new way of life. If you're a little intimidated to change your entire life all at once, start off small! Instead of joining a gym right away, try going on daily walks outside then eventually turn those walks into jogs, and so on. Eating healthy will work if you really stick to it so start out by picking out three unhealthy foods and cut them out of your diet. You need to stop using the new year as an excuse to make empty promises to yourself about things that you are going to do and accomplish. It's like mother always says, "Don't make promises that you can't keep," including promises to yourself.
Enjoy celebrating the new year with your friends and family. When someone asks you if you have a resolution for the new year just simply tell them, "Nope, I'm good". When they look at you as if you have three heads, smile and say, "I don't want to use the new year to motivate me to change my life for the better." Have a safe and happy New Year! Bring it on 2017.
