We are back around again in the cycle of one year ending and another year beginning. And with that seems to come the idea of changing every aspect of your life: New Year’s resolutions.

For some reason, the beginning of the year seems like a better time than any to change and fix and better your life. But why January? Why the first? Personally, I think New Year’s Resolutions are completely overrated. Almost everyone makes and sets out expectations that are usually never met, and by the end of the year, you’re left disappointed.

Maybe I’m slightly biased because my resolutions have never seemed to come true, but that’s because that specific system doesn’t work for me. The idea of creating a detailed list of resolutions is not realistic.

The word “resolution” just never sits well with me and I think that’s where I’ll start our list.

Here are three reasons why I think New Year’s resolutions are overrated.

1. Resolutions set you up for failure.

Calling something or creating something with the idea of calling in a resolution is basically setting you up for some form of failure. By definition, the word resolution means a firm decision to do or not to do something. Instead of calling whatever you want to achieve a “resolution,” I think it’s better to set out goals. It sounds so much less strict and there’s no definite end to goals. In my opinion, a goal is something you set out to be completed within any given time. When I hear 'resolution,' I think of it as something that has to be set and completed within 12 months and that ultimately stresses me out. Most of the time people get discouraged with resolutions because they don’t see results right away. I feel like renaming something as a goal means you know you can work toward it with no ending time. So really, stop setting resolutions. Set goals.

2. Start your goals now!

Why wait until the beginning of the year to set out a new lifestyle? Why not just start it when you first think of it and go from there? In reality, how is January 1st any better than, say, August 17th? Goals can be set at any point in time — you just have to have the motivation to do them. Most people think of New Year’s resolutions long in advance too. You always hear the typical “I’m going to the gym every day starting the New Year,” even though the gym is usually the busiest in January because everyone has the same resolution as you! Why not start earlier and be used to the crowds come January time? Now is as good a time as any. You’re your own battle, and waiting to start resolutions (goals) is just postponing whatever results you hope to achieve.

3. No one is going to look at you differently.

At pretty much any time, but more often the beginning of a new year when everyone has a plan to change everything, no one is focused on what you’re doing. People just don’t care! I think people set resolutions with the idea of hopefully impressing someone or impressing people by changing what they look like or how they’re living their life. But I hate to break it to you: no one really cares. Why not start your lifestyle change now (as I said earlier)? With the New Year, people are so strictly focused on themselves that they don’t have time to worry about anyone else. I think that also has to do with disappointment too. People set out goals and resolutions leading to wanting to impress people. And when they don’t get attention for what they’re changing or what they’re now doing, that then introduces the idea of disappointment.

Ultimately, there’s nothing really wrong with New Year’s resolutions. My goal here isn’t to discourage you from doing what you want to or changing things you want to. But I really just want you to rethink what you’re doing and think, who am I doing this for? Why am I doing this? And what do I hope to gain from this?

Call them goals! It makes it less stressful with a feeling of less time commitment.

Do it NOW! Why are you waiting?

Focus on you.

Every month can be just as good as January, so start now.

With all that and everything else, have a happy New Year. Today is just as good as any.