Let’s make a resolution
There are a few sure signs to signify the start of the new year: students returning to campus for their new spring semester classes, an immediate cold front to ring in January, or my personal favorite, having to scribble out the date because of accidentally writing “2025” instead of “2026.” However, the most prevalent sign is the creation of New Year’s resolutions, which, according to Drive Research, 3 in 10 Americans participate in and at least everyone has heard of. The new year is associated heavily with change, and simply put, a new you. But why strive for growth only once a year when there are 364 more days we could be doing the exact same thing?
The pressure put on people, especially younger generations, to have it all figured out at the beginning of a year is difficult to manage and rather silly. Out of the Americans that made resolutions, 49% were 18-29, and Gen Z felt the most pressure to do so. And while 80% of people feel confident they can stick to their resolutions, only 20% of them actually do. Even though resolutions direct most people to a better path, change can be hard to adapt and make long-lasting. This change can become infinitely harder to accomplish when there is a common stigma of when to enact said change, when in reality, some people might not be ready to.
With that being said, I would like to propose a revision to a typical New Year’s resolution. Instead of placing so much emphasis on the “new year” aspect, let’s focus more on the resolution itself, and the act of making a change. Personally, I find myself using the perfectly-placed New Year’s in front of the resolution as an excuse to wait to better myself. And while I do enjoy pushing off hard activities like going to the gym, or eating healthier, I hate the feeling of knowing I could instead be actively taking care of myself more. In reality, a change could be set into action at any given time, so when you feel ready to put your best foot forward, then make it happen, regardless of what time of the year it is.
As the new semester begins, remind yourself that it is perfectly acceptable to settle in and wait a minute before breaking a rooted habit or jumping into something you can’t quite handle just yet. Whether it’s February, April or even October before you make that change, all that matters is you’re making an effort, regardless of any timeframe. Make this year your year by taking your resolution at your own pace.
