By: Kate Gruetter

Editor-in-Chief

As 2024 approached, most of us felt the same annual pressure to make a list of  “resolutions” or goals you hope to set and achieve to maximize the potential of a “new you” for the new year. However, oftentimes most people abandon these resolutions within the first few months of making them, and even fewer resolutions survive past spring. 

This is not a testament to our flaws, shortcomings, or laziness, but rather proof that resolutions are a scam — something that typically causes more guilt and pressure than they are worth. Resolutions hold us to standards that are too high maintenance and unrealistic for an average individual to uphold. While influencers and celebrities often emphasize these routines, this minority is the only group with the resources and time to truly commit themselves to fulfilling their goals. 

Additionally, tradition seems to mandate that these resolutions must be grandiose and life-changing, usually involving learning a new language, completely changing one’s diet, or reading one hundred and eighteen books. However, humans do not possess the psychological or physical capabilities to complete such drastic changes in our lives immediately. Professional counselor Jennifer Kowalski explained that “people tend to set [New Year’s resolution[s] that are really big, and they might be achievable, but there are probably 30 steps they needed to take before they get to that place. And so they make it unattainable by not setting smaller, more immediate goals.”

In addition to the pressure of New Year’s resolutions, most of the time these expectations are materialistic and surface level rather than introspective and truly beneficial. When we make resolutions, we focus on the “how” or “what,” rather than the “why.” Failing to ask ourselves why we want to fulfill the promises we are making, means our resolutions end up feeling like huge, impersonal expectations. We tend to follow the traditional resolutions regarding frequent trips to the gym or fewer unnecessary purchases without questioning why we want to make these changes. Not only does this give us less motivation to complete our resolutions, but it also means that if we inevitably fail to achieve our goals, we feel less upset and are more prone to slipping up again. 

Finally, the costs that come with popular resolutions are sometimes too much for normal people. Gym memberships, organic foods, and attempts to travel the world are pricey, and even though famous people make them look fun and doable, they are not so seamless for most people. Again, these popular resolutions are more materialistic than fulfilling, making them less personal and therefore less beneficial. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to discourage you from working on your resolutions or asking you to give them up completely. Rather, I’m trying to highlight that our traditional view on New Year’s resolutions is dumb and we need to reevaluate it. Your resolutions should be about you, not what society deems necessary and trendy, or what your favorite influencer raves about. 

(Sources: Forbes, VeryWellMind)