The adverse year of 2020 has come to an end, and everyone wants to start off the next year on the right foot. The beginning of a new year, especially into the first week, always marks change, which popularized the tradition of picking up new years resolutions.
Although this tradition is more applicable to the West, it has still made enough impact around the world. New Year’s resolutions came to be in hopes of improving life and building healthy habits. People have seen success and failure with resolutions, which made the said tradition so infamous.
New year’s resolutions occasionally revolve around good practices: change, personal goals, and/or improvement. However, there are recurring promises many people try to follow or make, most usually involve breaking nasty habits such as nail biting and procrastinating.
Despite many people’s intentions, and hopes to start the year off right, once the new year ends, many people struggle to keep up with what they intentionally planned.
“Just 8 percent of people achieve their New Year’s goals, while around 80 percent fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions,” said US clinical psychologist Joseph Luciani told the New York Post, referring to a study conducted by the University of Scranton.
Most people end up falling back into old habits simply because it’s what’s easiest for them. This failure leaves many with the feeling of disappointment in one-self. Reverting back to old habits can leave many with low confidence and willpower; the more a person comes across failure, the less likely they feel they want to try again..
Additionally, in the same study conducted by Luciani, surveys revealed one of the most common resolutions many people make— and often drop.
At MLEC, almost 80% of the students set their News Year’s resolution to focus on studies and school. Additionally, some of them would like to raise their GPA, get organized, and find better study habits. This can also be done during the summer, so that when school comes around, these goals will either be set or in progress.
Although resolutions are about change and reflection, many people should consider setting up goals or “resolutions” on days that aren’t new years. It doesn’t have to be new years for one to be able to organize or set goals for oneself, even the littlest goals or resolutions can mean a lot when they are completed.
Setting up goals doesn’t have to be a tradition set aside just for new years. Making small goals and slowly working up helps many achieve their end goal. Take the time to better yourself this year — one goal at a time.
