It’s almost New Year’s Eve. The Christmas season is winding down and people everywhere are looking to take a fresh start in their lives in the upcoming year. This is a time when many people make new year’s resolutions such as, “I’m going to lose X amount of weight this year,” “I’m going to quit drinking/smoking,” or “I’m going to save more of my money and spend less.” This time of year, people hear “New Year, New Me” everytime they turn around. So I’m just going to come right out and say what we’re all thinking; I hate New Year’s Resolutions.

We have all made them, and we all know how well they work out. Often times about a week into January, New Year’s resolutions start being forgotten or ignored. Even the most committed people start to fall away from their resolutions in only a few months. The same resolutions are made year after year and not stuck to. Also, every news station around has to ask about them. Celebrities are asked about what their resolutions are, and segments are done about suggestions in case someone at home cannot think of a resolution. I feel as if I cannot be the only person who looks at my tv like “Oh come on! Can’t we see something more interesting than this again.”

I am not saying I hate New Year’s Eve. Staying up late with family and friends, watching the ball drop in time square, all the positivity, I love New Year’s Eve. I just think that people should stop making empty promises because they feel like the time of year makes them obligated to. If someone wants to better themselves, they should do it. They should set a goal for themselves, rather than anyone else, sometime in the year other than new years. This forces them to motivate themselves, rather than allowing societal pressure to motivate them for about a week and then forgetting about it. News stations should stop asking people about their resolutions and focus on other things. This is just another example of the media ignoring important world news to show something unimportant that they feel will sell better. This is how most of our country could tell you every piece of celebrity gossip in the last few months, but none could tell you about the inhumanity going on overseas. Even issues closer to home, such as the water in Flint Michigan still not being clean, is overlooked by big news station.

So if you are looking to make improvements to your life think about making a resolution in June. Not feeling motivated or committed in June? If so, then the resolution may need to be modified to be more realistic. This way only people who are truly committed to something will make resolutions, and those people are the ones likely to stick to their plans. So enjoy New Year’s Eve, whether that means a night in with the family, a night out with your friends, or even a trip to the most magical place this time of year, Times Square, but save yourself and everyone else by forgetting the New Year’s resolution.