By the time you read this it will be a new year. It's a time when many people seek a clean slate; a chance to make some changes in their lives whether it's going back to school or breaking a bad habit, to name a couple examples. In the day or two leading up to New Year's Eve, a lot of people begin to consider what changes they'd like to make or what they'd like to do differently in the next 12 months. I'm talking about New Year's Resolutions.
We've all made them at one point or another in our lives. It can be on any one of a number of factors in our lives, but it always seems to involve something we're unhappy with about ourselves. We fully intend to follow through, but inevitably something happens and we abandon these resolutions long before the year is actually over. The reasons are a numerous as the reasons for making the resolutions. They stumbling blocks can range from one's work schedule to family obligations to just not being able to afford to do the things that would change the next year for a person. Nonetheless, something tends to happens that derails us from following things through in this particular regard.
Recently, I was listening to a humorous song about New Years that claimed that said resolutions were a bunch of lies because nobody seems to follow them through. While I understand that point, there are obvious problems with it. The obvious one being that, while they may not be successful, most people who make new years resolutions honestly intend to follow them through and make the changes they want to make. They don't make them just to hear the sound of their voice but because they see issues in their lives they want to correct. Does that make them lies? I don't think so because people intend to do these things and some people even begin to make the changes, but fall short of their goals somewhere along the way. I think everyone has come across this at least once in their lives.
So what should be done in regards to New Years Resolutions? I really don't have a pat answer for that since everyone's situation is different. Also, given the personal nature of these decisions to many people, I don't want to be seen as an expert on this (since I'm obviously not). However, since I realize many readers may want a couple tips regarding this, it is fair to make some small suggestions that might help people in this situation.
The first tip is something I heard about a year ago on a morning radio show I was listening to. The DJ/host said that a lot of research states it takes 28 days to turn something a person picks up into a habit. With that in mind, he suggested that in stead of making the resolution for a year just make it for 28 days. While not perfect, it is a sensible approach. It's also one that allows for second chances if you stumble and fail to make things stick the first time around. The other tip is simple - don't make resolutions.
By that tip, I don't mean that one should stay stuck in a cycle that doesn't work for them. If someone wants to make changes, they should feel free to do so. However, by formalizing them into resolutions, those changes could become as much of an obstacle as the things in their life they wish to change. By not making resolutions per se, one can attempt the changes without the need to beat themselves up when they stumble along the way. For me, personally, I find this is better than making resolutions that might not always be lived up to.
Whether someone chooses to make New Years Resolutions or not, this has become a tradition that's ingrained in our culture. Thus, it is going to be with us regardless of the choices we make in our own lives. To make these resolutions or not is up to you. It's also up to you to try and keep them and see them through. As we enter a new year, let's keep in mind that we are human and look at resolutions as possible steps to take, not as something we have to do to change ourselves totally. Regardless of one's choices, I hope that your upcoming year is a good one.
