January is a great time for all. It’s a new year, a chance to start over and begin a new chapter in your life. When the clock strikes 12, indicating the new year has begun, some new year's resolution is in the minds of every individual, trying to make this year their best one yet.
As a result, you sign up for the gym, pick up a new book, or put down the junk food for the first couple days of the new year. Now, realistically, how long do you actually follow your new year’s resolution? Is it only a couple days before you realize it’s too much work? Or, do you realize that whatever you want to change in your life is not as big of a deal as you originally made it out to be?
Don’t get me wrong, New Year’s resolutions are a great way to find something you want to improve on in the new year, and some can actually be fulfilled and change the ways in which you live life. The question remains, however, as to how long you will uphold your bond.
If you step foot into any public gym during the first let’s say couple weeks for the sake of this exercise (although that estimate seems quite optimistic to me), you will notice that every inch of space is packed. This is because those individuals whose New Year’s resolution was to generally “go to the gym” finally signed up for a gym membership and are trying to get their money’s worth. However, in time, the number of gym attendees exponentially decreases as people recognize the answer to the question of why they did not join the gym sooner: the difficulty of physical exertion.
An anonymous Edgemont student said that their New Year’s resolution was to “become healthier and happier.” When I asked said individual if this was the same resolution as last year’s, the response ran as follows: “Yes. Did it work? No, I got lazy and didn't end up doing anything.”
This student clearly does not possess a cheery outlook, but, knowing the probable outcome of an attempt to fulfill a serious exercise commitment, this determine soul, “started eating healthier foods and fixing [their] expectations.”
Another anonymous Edgemont student whose resolution was to “read more,” said the goal had not changed from that of last year. However, said individual admitted, “I don’t even read the books assigned in English class over the summer,” so reading for enjoyment seems a tad far-fetched. However, so far, this determined pupil has been “reading books {the} assigned.”
An anonymous Edgemont source shares that his or her goal is to “walk a mile everyday and balance sports and school better,” something that can actually be necessary and useful for his or her everyday life. Said pupil does not feel confident about time management, but this year feels that“there is a 50/50 chance” of achieving the goal of balancing time rather than walking a mile everyday. So far, the student has “adjusted [his or her} schedule and time management skills to make it easier to balance life, and when it isn’t snowing, [This individual} tries to walk home from school,” which seems hopeful to me, I mean, I have to root for someone, right?
Of course, it’s important to remember that there are those who set a reasonable goal for themselves and achieve what they set out to accomplish. What’s more, resolutions can start at any time, and people don't need a ball dropping to motivate themselves to improve the conditions of their lives.
People should consider thinking about New Year's resolutions not as a set, structured goal that has no leeway but, rather, as a reflection of one’s ultimate aspirations. People should also consider setting more modest goals.