For many, March is a month of celebration, Irish heritage and Spring Break. In addition to those very positive things, there is one thing that people do seem to struggle with during this time: New Year’s resolutions. At this point, if one hasn’t been able to commit to their goal, it might be time to re-evaluate.
For many, an issue appears when trying to find a goal that is attainable. Some examples of attainable New Year’s resolutions include: “I’m going to make my bed every morning,” “I’m only going to DoorDash once a week” and “I’m going to do my homework in Falvey instead of in my room.”
Some examples of unattainable resolutions include: “I’m going to go vegetarian,” (this person hasn’t eaten something green since move-in), “I’m going to quit social media” (this person has had Snapchat since age 12) and “I’m going to stop looking at myself so often” (this person is me).
Are you beginning to see a theme here? While attainable resolutions are small, sustainable changes to one’s everyday routine, unattainable resolutions are large, drastic shifts in one’s entire lifestyle.
This doesn’t mean that the intention behind these goals isn’t pure. I should really stop looking at myself in the mirror American-psycho style.
“Only if you follow through,” freshman Allyson Collette said when asked if New Year’s resolutions can be rewarding. “I set goals to start going back to the gym and to go to more concerts, which I’ve done.”
As redundant as it sounds, completing a goal truly is as simple as forcing oneself to do it. But before setting a goal, it’s important to evaluate what they would be willing to force themselves to do.
“Some people set a goal to go to the gym every day without ever having worked out before– this just isn’t reasonable,” Collette said.
When we use New Year’s resolutions as a way to punish ourselves or completely change our lifestyles, we greatly decrease the likelihood that they will actually stick. In addition to that, setting a long-term goal can be difficult when you have felt as though you’ve been stuck in a rut. Setting short-term goals can often be an easier, more realistic way to start off, which can be followed by setting some longer-term goals.
I propose that perhaps, instead of setting a year-long goal, begin by setting monthly goals. By sticking to something for just 30 days, it can be easier to continue the same goal past that time. In my experience, if I can stick to something for 30 days, the rewarding feeling I get at the end of that period makes me want to continue the challenge for longer. This is because I can first prove to myself that I can do something, and then gain more confidence to continue that change and integrate it into my lifestyle.
This month, I set a goal to pick at my skin less. I thought that if I was able to achieve this for a month, that could help me attain my larger goal of looking at myself in the mirror less. I think that this will ultimately impact my confidence in a positive way and also allow me to think about my overall appearance less.
For other people, some month-long goals could include small changes. If one wants to try and save money, consider trying to shop in-person more rather than online as this will save money from shipping and also make it harder for a person to buy everything they see on their phone. If one has a hard time getting out the door on time, try setting an outfit for the next day out on the desk before going to bed. Finally, if a person has had a hard time adjusting to college food, make a goal to go to a different dining location for dinner a couple times per week. This will challenge one to be more creative with meals and to discover new options on campus.
Overall, while New Year’s resolutions have the potential to be pretty ineffective, it doesn’t mean that their importance is completely void. When done correctly in small, reasonable steps, resolutions can be easier to achieve than one would expect. So, this coming month, challenge yourself by setting one small goal that can help you get outside of your comfort zone. It’s easier than you think.
