Well, we did it. It is now 2018, and that means that 2017 has officially come to a close and we are about to embark on another year of adventures. For many, the start of a new year offers something amazing: New Year’s resolutions. Whether it’s to eat healthier or spend more time in the gym, the beginning of 2018 has people everywhere attempting to figure out what their resolution this year is going to be, or so we would think.
From talking to several friends and family members, I had the incredibly alarming realization that many people are not planning to make resolutions this year. When I inquired about the decision not to, the responses I received were similar: “I never end up following through with them, there’s nothing that really stands out to me, I feel like I’m going to start something for a few days and then not complete it.” Initially, I was shocked. Sure, sometimes we fall short of completing some of the things we set out to, but why does that stop us from committing?
On the surface, it seems extremely simple and ridiculously easy: decide on something you would like to change — whether it be a mindset or lifestyle choice — for the new year, and change it. However, when you get right down to it, is it really that simple?
Over the holidays, we fall into the habit of becoming accustomed to the fact that we have endless amounts of free time and have it easy on our working lives. While college students may have it the easiest given the long breaks, even men and women in the working world can spare a few days off from the office to spend time with family. As a result, making the commitment to go for a run 3 days a week or read more books seem like simple activities to schedule time for in your daily routine.
But what happens when January 1st rolls around, classes start up again, and employees head back to work? We fall right back into the trend that we were living in 2017, and we find it difficult to find time for all those small changes we were interested in making. Thus, we stop making resolutions because we fear we won’t actually have time to complete anything.
So, how can we combat it? Is it even possible to avoid this pitfall and find a way to commit to the New Year’s resolutions we desperately want to make?
Rather than viewing your resolution as a requirement, view it as a recommendation. Obviously, if you are working a job from 9-5 every day, you probably aren’t going to have the energy to spend two hours at the gym each night. However, you might be able to muster up the energy 2-3 times a week to go on a quick run around the area. Similarly, if you are a college student you might not have the ability to snap your fingers and make those healthy gourmet meals every night, but every so often, don’t hesitate to roast some veggies or whip up a salad.
Resolutions should not be requirements because we are the ones who have a desire to fulfill them. Regardless of what you are interested in changing or improving for the upcoming year, remember that change never happens overnight. Don’t be afraid to jump into something because you’re worried you’ll lose sight of it and not end up accomplishing it. Rather, keep that goal in mind and remind yourself every day of why it’s important to focus on it, but remember that it’s not the end all be all of 2018.