Blathersite

New Year’s resolutions seem to be everyone’s favorite way of pretending they’re going to reach some goal only to forget about it come February. 

Statistically speaking, over half of Americans create New Year’s resolutions and a fraction of them actually follow through by December. A poll in 2023 found that only 1% of Americans reported sticking with their goals through December with most people falling off between two and three months after creating them. According to a CBS News article, 40% of our lives are dictated by set routines and habits. More often than not, our New Year’s resolutions seem to fall short of habit, and once again, the year ends with a long list of unfulfilled goals and disappointment. 

So what makes these goals so hard to keep up with?

Our goals need to be more than a desire or a checklist of things that must be accomplished. We need to let them become part of our routine, part of our subconscious habits, part of our everyday life. They ought to be something that we see as a part of who we are, not just a chore to be dealt with. 

In the field of health and wellness, we like to use SMART goals. These are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of saying “I want to get more fit,” you might say “I want to complete 150 minutes of exercise every week in 2025.” While the first goal is vague and has no set end value, the second goal is much more defined and reasonable. It has a specific time frame and clear measurements to define whether it was reached or not. 150 minutes is only 30 minutes for 5 days which gives room for extenuating circumstances that may prevent someone from reaching the goal. The SMART goal-setting process can be incredibly helpful for people trying to make a specific change in their life. It requires a deeper level of planning that makes it harder to push off until the end of the year. Setting milemarker goals throughout the year can also help keep you on track to reach your end goal. Just remember to start where you’re at, not where you want to be. A goal is a journey, not an instant change. 

Social support is also a huge motivating or unmotivating factor. Surround yourself with people who are going to help you achieve your goals and set boundaries with people who don’t provide you with encouragement or those who bring you down. Find a partner to complete your goal with you or a friend who will pester you until you finally get up and do that thing you were supposed to do. Accountability is a vital tool for reaching your goals, so don’t brush it off becasue you’re too embarrassed or prideful to ask for help. 

My final piece of advice is to set a goal that you will enjoy completing. 

“But what if I don’t enjoy [fitness/eating better/working harder/insert hard goal here],” you say. That’s okay. Let your resolution change your mindset by turning something you love into a means to reach your end goal.

My goal in 2024 was to slow down and take more time for myself in spite of my chaotic schedule. I wanted to spend more time outside and be intentionally active more often. Instead of setting a mileage goal or a specific amount of time I would dedicate to being outside, I set a goal that I would look forward to completing. My New Year’s resolution for 2024 was to visit a new park for every month of the year. Twelve parks over the course of twelve months. It seemed very doable and would get me out of the house when I wasn’t working or interning. 

And let me just say that it was the most fun I’ve ever had completing a New Year’s resolution. In fact, it was the first goal I’ve ever actually completed. I went from the “give up in two to three months” person to the 1% who made it all twelve months because I was having so much fun. 

I went exploring in the woods, took pictures of historical sites, went camping with my father for the first time in years, paddle-boarded with dolphins, surfed with my siblings, watched manatees from a boardwalk, went on several long-distance road trips, and created so many great memories that I will treasure forever. With every park I visited, I had new ideas for my next visit. I met new people, saw beautiful sights, and got plenty of steps in all the while. I was outside more, exercised more, and spent more time enjoying the world around me instead of being caught up in the hustle and bustle of the American dream. 

So maybe the takeaway from my experience is choose a resolution that allows you to achieve your goals without radically changing who you are. You are fearfully and wonderfully made just the way you are. Use that to your advantage. Love taking pictures? Schedule time to visit scenic places. Love being outside? Visit some parks. Love trying new foods? Teach yourself how to make healthier meals. 

Take up that new hobby you’ve been meaning to try. Learn something new. Plan that road trip. Meet up with those friends you miss. Life is too short to waste it checking off a to-do list. 

Let’s spend 2025 having fun and being the best version of ourselves. New year, same me loving living. 

As a bonus, here are my New Year’s resolutions for 2025: 

-Love God: Finally get to read through the entire Bible in a year (I love my relationship with God, so this will be a fun one to complete after years of thinking I should.)

-Love People: Make an effort to compliment people I encounter, especially people I don’t know (Not really specific or measurable, but I enjoy making people smile. My resolution, my rules.)

-Love Life: Keep a journal with 5 things I’m thankful for each day (This one will be hard until I make it a habit, but I do love a good challenge… I also love the daily reminders feature on my phone.)

-Love Myself: Run a 5k every quarter (I discovered I love completing races after running my first 5k last year, so never be afraid to try new things, even if they seem daunting at first.)

I want to encourage you all to make a list of your resolutions for 2025 and share them with a friend or loved one. Let’s make 2025 a year of completed resolutions.