At the stroke of midnight on January 1st, people all over the world declare their New Year’s resolutions. However, how many of them actually manage to stick to their goals? And is it really worth it to make resolutions? Personally, I believe it’s very beneficial, even if you do not end up achieving all of your goals.
For many, the new year means a clean slate and a chance to aspire towards resolutions that will improve their lives. Although many people begin the year with the motivation to make life changes, they tend to lose their momentum by February, ultimately giving up on their goals. In fact, studies have shown that 80% of resolutions are abandoned within the first month. “The psychology behind New Year’s resolutions is faulty,” psychiatrist Prudy Gourguechon wrote in an article for Forbes. “Changing repetitive, familiar personal behaviors or adding new, unfamiliar ones is very, very difficult to accomplish,” she notes. This statement makes sense. People tend to set difficult, time-consuming goals to start the year.
Research has shown that 23% of resolutions involve living healthier, and 21% are about being happier. However, these are very broad and cannot be achieved overnight. When people don’t see progress toward their goals, it can often cause them to become discouraged, leading to procrastination, and eventually, people may give up on the resolutions they were previously so excited about. So if the majority of people don’t stick to their resolutions, what makes them worth creating?
It is important to recognize that there are many people who consistently achieve their goals year after year. With that being said, research has shown that even the act of setting goals can positively affect you and your peers. Elizabeth Grace Saunders, author and time management coach, shared her opinion with Harvard Business Review, saying, “Making a resolution can boost your sense of self-efficacy, which is the belief in your ability to take action that benefits yourself.” As it turns out, many factors in making resolutions positively contribute to your mental and emotional well-being. If you are intentional with your goals, you begin the new year with a clear direction. Chances are, you also have an optimistic outlook on the year ahead due to the resolutions you plan on achieving. This positive mindset can contribute not only to your mental health but can also impact the people around you.
By discussing or taking action toward your resolutions, you’re also contributing to the mindset of others. You can inspire others to focus on bettering themselves in the new year in ways that benefit them. In addition, I’m sure everyone loves feeling the satisfaction of checking off a goal. If you do achieve your resolutions, you’ll feel motivated to continue setting goals in the future. Whether that means working towards an A in math, drinking more water, or trying a new hobby, what’s the harm in setting goals?
For some, it’s not the idea of making resolutions that deters them, but the fear of not accomplishing them. While it is understandable that it can feel overwhelming, there are ways to make your goals more manageable. Experts, such as Elizabeth Saunders, suggest making your resolutions more measurable. This way, you can efficiently track your progress throughout the year. For example, rather than saying you want to end the school year with straight A’s, try setting a smaller goal that helps you achieve the larger one. Perhaps this means studying for twenty minutes daily, or maybe you will go to tutorial every other week. These goals are much more measurable, which can help you track your progress and remain motivated to achieve your desired results.
Whatever you’re planning to do in 2024, consider the benefits that goal-setting can have on your life. Despite the negative connotations surrounding New Year resolutions, I have come to believe they can considerably impact your mental and emotional well-being for the better. Even if you don’t achieve all of your goals, you can positively impact yourself and others. By breaking down your resolutions into measurable goals, you are making them more achievable while increasing your chances of success. In conclusion, I would undoubtedly recommend creating resolutions for the year ahead.
