Approximately, only 9% of people will stick to their new year’s resolutions all year long. This daunting statistic may discourage some from even making resolutions this year, due to low self confidence and trust in their own ambitions. After all, not everyone can be in the 9%. However, I find it to be most beneficial to understand why resolutions fail, for this understanding can prevent you from giving up and give you an idea of why you are falling short.
The first concept that helps me put my resolutions into perspective is the idea that time is relative, and time isn’t transformative, in the short term at least. Although new years can be a fresh start for many, it’s not miraculous character changing, meaning that if you struggled to, for example, run a mile in 2023 you should not expect yourself to be able to run a marathon every morning of 2024. However, if you decided to take up a light jog for 15 minutes 3 times a week, you would improve greatly from your starting point in 2023. This is of course just an example, and it is my opinion that can be applied to many resolutions. If your resolution was to cook more, don’t expect yourself to be able to do Gordan Ramsay levelled meals every night. If your resolution was to study more, don’t expect yourself to be able to do hours on end without breaks. Start small and build your skills up throughout the year, because the new year doesn’t just give you the skills you didn’t possess in 2023.
Don’t put too much pressure on the new year. See every day, every hour as a fresh start. I wonder how many days I’ve spent waiting to start tomorrow, or start on Monday, or start in the new year’s. If you spend half of your day being unproductive, that doesn’t sentence you to spend the rest of the day or even week to be in that same state. If you spend half of your day being unproductive then that’s fine because you still have half of your day. If your resolution was to do something every day, and you fail one day that doesn’t mean you can’t start again tomorrow if you are ready.
More than anything, your resolution will reflect your mindset. It’s a thin line between being gentle on yourself and making excuses. And in a similar way there’s a thin line between holding yourself accountable and being mean. You shouldn’t excuse yourself for being mediocre and you shouldn’t bully yourself into being extraordinary. Finding the balance in-between these polarizing thoughts is difficult and looks different for everyone but the most important concept to understand if you want to stick to your resolutions this year.
You are okay, and in 2023 you achieved many things that you probably don’t even acknowledge. I think everyone should always work on bettering themselves, however you don’t need to reinvent yourself in the new year’s. Don’t set 50 challenges for yourself at once, tackle them one at a time. Creating too many goals can lead to burn out and be over all unsustainable in the long run. You have survived this long and wanting change is fine, but you don’t need to change every aspect of your life and personality, you have lived and been loved as you are.
So yes, do bother with resolutions if that’s what you want to do. Put yourself in the 9% because you can do it. More than anything you need to believe that. We always say to treat others how you would treat yourself and I agree. Encourage those in your life who are trying to change or take on something. However, treat yourself how you would treat others. Extend the same encouragement and belief you would have on your loved ones onto yourself. I hope your new year’s is full of achievement and happiness, whether you meet your resolutions or not. Good luck!
Tiana Chalkley-Grier, aged 18, 07/01/2024
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