The Problem With Resolutions | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

The Problem With Resolutions

Resolve to make a lasting change in the coming year.

21
The Problem With Resolutions
Luisqb, Pixabay

We're coming up on a new year, which means change is in the air. It's the time of year when people decide to take control and change the things they didn't have time for in the past. For most people, resolutions are a way of self-improvement, a bargain with the new year to make themselves "better than ever." 2017 will no doubt prove similar, with hundreds of Facebook posts about resolutions to work out more, eat better and be kinder.

The problem with resolutions doesn't lie in the intention (they're actually a pretty great idea), but in the implementation. Nearly every person who resolves to change in the new year fizzles out within the first six weeks. That's not surprising, seeing how most people make their resolutions at the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1.

While it's inspiring to decide in the moment to make a major life change, it is almost never a lasting experience. We all have a friend or relative who makes the same resolution every year and announces it to the world. They post all over social media for the first few weeks of January, then suddenly drop it. Even the accountability of an Instagram post can't help people stick to their changes.

This New Year's, instead of making resolutions, make plans. Decide to change several aspects of your life and make them specific. Don't focus as much on external changes, but instead think about how you can be a better family member, a better student, better employee, etc. Make plans for small changes, like starting a daily journal or calling your family twice a week. While those goals may seem silly, they are the ones that will help to make lasting change through the coming year.

2017 shouldn't be about making phony promises to ourselves. We should, and can, do better than that. Making reasonable plans at the beginning of the year with conservative goals may be the best way to create lasting change. While small changes may seem insignificant in the face of everyone else's big goals, at the end of 2017 those smaller goals will have been met, while those huge goals will be left behind by February.

Face the new year with excitement and joy, and plan to change the things you can. Help others realize their goals while striving to achieve your own as well. Most of all, remember that the new year is what you make it, and try to make it great.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2298
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1385
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200623
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21170
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments