Every year during the last week of December, many people choose to draft resolutions for the New Year, including going to the gym, eliminating procrastination, and eating healthier. However, by the end of January, many people find themselves falling back into old habits. There are multiple reasons why resolutions are hard to commit to. Old Dominion University’s Public Relations specialist Kelsey Kendall suggests that making a SMART goal will better the chances for success in the new year. SMART stands for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time- bound.
“Everyone has the same number of hours in a day, and no amount of planning or multitasking changes that,” Kendall said. “It is important to set goals that take time into consideration and prioritize what areas of your life you want to make the most improvement [in].”
Planning out goals based on the time given in the day, no matter how busy or free, can increase the chances of checking off the boxes at the end of the year. The tendency to quit prematurely is another reason why one might struggle with their resolutions. University College of London found that it takes about 66 consecutive days to form a habit. At first, habits can seem like a big task, especially if the habit is something that feels dreadful. Once the habit starts developing, about a week and a half in, the action can typically feel less dreadful, until it feels like an everyday thing to complete in a routine.
When anonymously surveyed, San Marin students were asked if they had any resolutions for this new year. Out of 23 students, 60.9% said that they did have resolutions. 39.1% of those students said that they struggle with their resolutions, and some commented on why they struggle. The most common struggles were laziness and lack of motivation.
Another reason one might not be able to stick to their resolution is the influence of trends promoted through social media. When drafting goals, individuals tend to follow popular trends rather than creating something attainable for them. As a result, the concept of “new year, new me” can feel more pressuring than motivating to those seeking self-improvement.
“If you want New Year’s resolutions to actually be resolutions and not just a romanticized New Year’s tradition, you should do it at a time it’s best for you, and really look into yourself as an individual and not pay attention to what other people are doing because you are the only person that the resolutions are going to benefit,” junior Nora Schiltgen said.
A takeaway can be that personal goals don’t have to start on January 1, they can start whenever one is ready. Being in a mental state of readiness can possibly benefit the outcome of the goals that want to be achieved for a new year.
