It is impressive to think that, culturally, we have managed to have created this strong association between the idea of a second chance for self-improvement with the new year. The new year presents itself as a fresh start; a clean slate for all of us to establish better habits for ourselves. Whether it's committing to eating healthier, getting back into shape, achieving an academic goal, or being selected for the career you’ve always wanted, someone somewhere has committed to achieving a goal that they have set for themselves to be completed by the year’s end. We have even managed to develop a particular noun that describes people who commit to New Year’s resolutions: the resolutioner. One would think that a word connoting the celebration of the new year along with the concept of someone with defined personal resolutions would be accompanied by an empowering rhetoric, thus creating a positive concept of those who choose to make and pursue New Year’s resolutions. On the contrary, the resolutioner commonly receives negative attention in popular culture. The resolutioner is seen as a burdensome individual who commits to a goal for a short while, but then ends up neglecting their resolution and ultimately ending up back to where they had started.

One of the largest anticipated failures of certain resolutioners is their commitment to acquire better health and physical fitness. The term resolutioner had arisen from the large influx of the people going to the gym after the new year and then suddenly stopping after a few weeks. With the already established stigma toward obesity, there exists a negative rhetoric against individuals who do not go to the gym on a regular basis, though may not necessarily be overweight. The common excuse of “oh, I’d go but I don’t have time” is commonly followed up with a shallow response from critics along the lines of “if I’m able to go with little time and sleep, then you should too”, thus creating feelings of shame within the non-gym goer. One would then think that with this large influx of people having decided to go to the gym regularly that it would be a refreshing site to gym goers; the sight of many people taking that first step to improve their health and, ultimately, their lives. However, there still exists these harsh sentiments against resolutioners. One’s regular routine at the gym is simply not enough to qualify as morally acceptable, unless it is matched with a seemingly muscular or fit appearance. Hypothetically, an individual in already peak physical shape who attends a new gym after the new year could likely receive more positive regard than someone who does not have a well perceived physical physique despite having been going to that same gym regularly as well. If there exists negative regard for people who do not go to the gym and then negative regard for those actually going on a regular basis but do not meet this physical beauty standard, then how can we be at all surprised that many resolutioners abruptly stop going? The word resolutioner is not unbeknownst to anyone. Even resolutioners themselves know what the word implies and when the word is being used negatively against them. Our rhetoric disenchants resolutioners from coming back to the gym, because they do not feel wanted. They feel as if they don’t belong and those are harsh feelings for anyone to endure.

All of this considered, it would be in our best interest to change how we use the word resolutioner. When we try something new for the first time we are going to mess up. We are human. Resolutioners are going to make mistakes when attempting to establish a weightlifting or cardio routine. But like all other humans, they have a capability to learn through guided instruction, mentoring, or simple trial and error. Instead of perceiving the resolutioner as one just taking up floor space at the gym, take a minute to appreciate how much motivation and courage they must have to take that first step into personal development. We should consider being humble to resolutioners taking their first steps in the direction of better health. Some, if not most of us, have been out of shape at some point in our lives. We did not emerge into this world with rippling physiques of steel that have been socially glorified and, unfortunately, moralized into our social beauty standard. A rhetoric of empowerment will allow resolutioners to feel welcome at the gym and will feel better about themselves. This kind of empowerment can be applied to whatever resolutions they ultimately will pursue. Whether it's learning a new skill or trying to perceive oneself in a more positive way, stronger empowerment will confer to stronger motivation. This will lead to greater commitment, ultimately leading to the completion of these resolutions. We’re more likely to engage and commit to activities when we feel supported. We have far too many critics. Take the time to support the resolutioners in the gym during these first couple weeks of the new year. A nice tip on proper form could show that you care. You may just be doing them a favor when you create an empowering and inclusive atmosphere for them.