As midnight approaches on December 31st and people begin the countdown to usher in the new year, it’s common to reflect on the year gone by and set resolutions for the one ahead. You may pledge to shed some pounds, kick off your writing journey, or aspire for a dream career. The resolutions might seem achievable at the onset, but fast forward a few months, and they are often forgotten.
So, why is it we persevere yearly with setting unattained goals? Instead of torturing ourselves with this redundant practice, here are three compelling reasons to break away from New Year’s resolutions tradition.
1. GOING OVERBOARD WITH DREAMS
Although it’s good to dream big, New Year’s resolutions require a balance. Often, we set ourselves up for failure by setting ambitious targets such as losing a significant amount of weight, gearing up for a whirlwind romance, or extensive travel. Such goals, while admirable, are generally too lofty and lack specificity. When your goal appears vast and endless, it’s natural to feel intimidated and demotivated.
On the contrary, a vague resolution is similarly counter-productive, leaving you directionless. The trick is to define your goal precisely, making the roadmap clearer to follow. Continuous failures in accomplishing New Year’s resolutions can negatively affect your confidence.
2. LACKING GENUINE MOTIVATION
Have you ever pondered why you set a New Year’s resolution? The concept of revamping one’s life on the dawn of the New Year has almost become a social obligation. Seeing others’ resolutions on social media might entice you, but unless it’s a personal desire for improvement, your lack of genuine motivation can lead to your goal’s premature demise. Aim for self-driven goals as they hold more promise for achievement.
3. WRONG APPROACH TO GOALS
Some people take a ‘go big or go home’ approach to their resolutions, only to abandon them when their energy ebbs. If fitness was never on your agenda, suddenly plunging into a six-day workout and diet regime is simply unsustainable. This dive-in-head-first approach often causes people to alienate their resolutions.
Instead of setting massive, long-term resolutions, create a framework of smaller, more feasible habits. Simplify your goal into smaller units to make them more achievable. The key lies in giving yourself reachable targets, reducing the chances of giving up.
Nonetheless, the pursuit of self-improvement is commendable and important. While setting New Year’s resolutions is not entirely negative, the conventional way of setting and achieving them could use an upgrade. Do not conform to social pressures of making big changes solely due to the advent of the New Year. Instead, redefine your goals at a pace suiting you without the burden of matching up to societal expectations.
As you move into the New Year, resist the urge to announce lofty goals and steer away from the crowd. Savor the new beginning, but only make resolutions when you truly commit to fulfilling them. The road to achieving real-life targets is more fruitful when you’re genuinely ready for the challenge.
Have you been setting and sticking to your New Year’s resolutions?
