With the end of the holiday season, we have the end of another year. 2016 has run off with it’s tail between it’s legs, and some of our favorite idols, and 2017 has properly come around. With the start of the new year, many people are inspired to make some kind of change in their lives with New Year’s Resolutions.

Most people will make a new resolution every year. They want to get in shape, quit meat, quit alcohol, visit Europe, get better grades, etc. But the most common threat in all these resolutions, is the fact that none of them are very revolutionary.

Gym memberships are sold all over the country, and never used more than twice in January. New vegetarians are jumping back to meet before the month ends. People decide that Europe is too expensive. The vast majority of people who make these resolutions, don’t ever keep to them.

I kind of think it’s sad. And I think the problem comes from people making these changes, not because they want to, but because they feel like they have to. It’s the tradition. Everyone feels like they should make a resolution, so they just do it without really committing. It is hard to maintain a strict change in your life, when you don’t actually feel motivated for it. So I don’t blame people who have a hard time continuing with their resolutions, I blame the tradition of making them every New Year.

I feel like we should try to do away with the practice, so that people would make these changes in their lives, not at some arbitrary change in the calendar, but when it felt like it was time for them. I want people to decide to make alterations in their lives when they feel that they have reached the point where they want to.

No one wants to feel like they are being forced into a situation, and even though you may feel like you are choosing to do this resolution, your mind will still have this feeling that you are only doing it because societal norms and tradition are telling you that you have to do this.

Now I don’t want this to seem like I am against people making changes in their lives. I wholeheartedly encourage people to grow and adjust their lives as they feel is necessary. But do it on your terms, not mine, nor anyone else’s. If you want to lose weight, then do it, at your pace, with your own encouragement. If you want to become a vegan, learn about it and get some support. If you want to travel, start collecting your change. Don’t make a time limit, but take that first step towards your goal.

Go at your own pace, and start when you want to or need to, but I always recommend, do it as soon as possible. That's how you make yourself happier.