by Abbey Hastings

Graphic Designer

            Ever since we were young, the term “New Year’s resolution” has been all too familiar to us. I remember the first time I heard it, I was sitting in my desk in my first grade classroom. My classmates and I clumsily penned our very first resolutions into our little black and white Composition books. My teacher explained it to us as, “Something you want to do this year, like a goal.” It sounded so simple to my 7-year old ears. The resolution I wrote down in my book that day was, “My New Year’s resolution is to stay up all night.” Boom – done. Think back to your first New Year’s resolution. It was probably something simple and concrete, most likely relating to secular things like, “Get a new bicycle,” or “Build a treehouse.” Ah, to be young again!

            These days, the goals we set for ourselves are a bit more abstract. Our New Year’s resolutions require tons of hard work, will power, and dedication. Among the most common resolutions are: “Lose weight,” “Quit smoking,” “Get out of debt,” and “Learn a new language.” At first glance most people would think, “Okay, it won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible.” And most people would be right. These tasks aren’t insurmountable or impossible or even outlandish; they’re solid goals that aim at improving lifestyles rather than chasing after silly dreams. So why is it so hard for most people to stick to their New Year’s resolutions?

            We’ve all been there – we make a resolution and take a dictatorial stance on it for the first part of the year. For some of us, we last only a week or so; the more determined of us can often make it through March or April. But every year, without fail, we always find ourselves on December 31, faced with a new year and a new set of resolutions, wondering just what the heck happened to the old ones. For most people, “New Year’s resolution” becomes “ten year resolution,” repeating the same resolution every year in an interminable cycle.

            Many people are crying out for help wondering, “How can I stick with my New Year’s resolution?” The solution is simpler than you think. Most people either take their resolutions too seriously, or not seriously enough. The trick is to strike a balance. Make a plan for yourself, but one that is flexible and designed to bend with every curveball life throws at you. Or you can take the high road and ride above it all, choosing to shrug off the pressure that New Year’s resolutions create and to just appreciate the good things you already have.

            Life is progressive, volatile, and turbulent, and you can never exactly predict just where you’ll be in one year’s time. In that respect, New Year’s resolutions are a farce, simply because they mislead us to believe that our lives are predictable and therefore completely within our control. As time goes on and our determination wanes, diminished by day-to-day problems that life throws at us, New Year’s resolutions easily fade into the background. “Play with the dog for 30 minutes every day” becomes “throw the dog toy a couple times three days a week;” “Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day” quickly degenerates into “Pizza definitely counts as a vegetable.”

            But hey, there’s good news! You don’t need to beat yourself up anymore about letting your New Year’s resolve slip away – because honestly, it happens to all of us. And luckily, there are a couple solutions to fight the guilt and get yourself back on track.

            One way to deal with a failing commitment is to make that commitment smaller. The best way to cheat yourself out of sticking to your New Year’s resolution is to psych yourself into thinking that the resolution is a huge task. My suggestion is to make four “seasonal resolutions”, one for each winter, spring, summer, and fall. That way, every three months or so, you can renew your commitment, refocus, and stay on track. For example, if your resolution is to lose 10 pounds, set a goal for yourself that in March, you’ll weigh two pounds less; in June, you’ll weigh four pounds less; in September, you’ll weigh 8 pounds less; and in December, you’ll reach your goal weight! The other upside about that system is that you can see your progress, and once you’ve already fulfilled a smaller goal, it doesn’t seem as taxing to simply repeat it three more times. Plus, you’ll feel accomplished more often throughout the year, making your resolution feel just within your reach.

            Another way to keep yourself on track is to take the time beforehand to outline exactly what you want to accomplish and make a list of steps you must go through to reach your goal. For some people, this step seems a little anal-retentive and weird; however, if you’re really committed to sticking with your resolution, you’ll take the time to do it. Having a concrete timeline and list to look back to when you need motivation will help jumpstart your enthusiasm and get you back in gear.

            Now, you may be wondering, what was my New Year’s resolution? Even if you don’t care, I’m going to tell you, because my take on the whole affair is one that you might agree with. After playing the game year after year, and losing each time, this January I decided to try something new: no New Year’s resolution. The whole thing started when I realized that my life really didn’t need any changing; I was happy with how things were. And I think that, contrary to popular belief, your life is pretty good too. So yes, you can do what you do every year, and rack your brain for what’s wrong with your existence and then focus on that for the entire year; but here’s a challenge for you – this year, make your New Year’s resolution to be appreciative of everything that you already have.

            Forget that little voice in your head telling you that you need more, more, more to be happy; when your friends ask you what your New Year’s resolution is, answer them with a knowing smile. The truth is, we’re trained to believe that we constantly need more, that the grass is always greener somewhere else, and New Year’s resolutions are just a product of that. So my personal solution to the inevitable disappointment that comes with New Year’s resolutions is to make yours something that’s already sitting in your lap. Resolve to love more, breathe deeper, take your time, and look around yourself at what you already have. Chances are, you’ll be surprised at what you find.