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New year’s resolutions are a surefire way to wreak disappointment and frustration onto ourselves, and now more than ever they need to become a thing of the past.
We all can agree that it’s important to have aspirations and set goals for ourselves; however, as we settle into a new year and a new semester, it’s crucial to remember that although 2020 is finally over, the aftermath of its chaos is still very much alive in 2021.
I’m sure many would argue that after a year like 2020, creating resolutions for yourself is a “good way to get back to normal,” but I can guarantee that claiming to want to lose weight, get organized, or learn a new skill will not repair the damage of Hurricane Corona.
After a dumpster fire year like 2020, it’s easy to find yourself craving change—or in this case, normalcy, but creating potentially unattainable New Year’s resolutions is neither realistic nor healthy.
While in past years, making New Year’s resolutions may have seemed like an opportunity to hold yourself accountable, it’s common knowledge that most people do not maintain or achieve their resolutions.
“Research shows that as many as 50% of adults in the United States make New Year’s resolutions, but fewer than 10% actually keep them for more than a few months,” Dr. Charles Herrick, chair of Psychiatry at Nuvance Health, said.
The reasons for failed New Year’s resolutions vary, but the feelings associated with “giving up” do not. When the mayhem and uncertainties of life take over, it makes it difficult for us to achieve the ambiguous resolutions we set for ourselves at the start of each year. We feel dissatisfied with our abilities and discipline.
As the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hang in the balance, we are left in limbo when it comes to the personal, academic, and professional aspects of our lives. Unable to determine if and when the pandemic will run its course, creating New Year’s resolutions is a recipe for discouragement and disappointment.
After an unprecedented year like 2020, there is no good reason for self-inflicted dismay in 2021, so instead of setting yourself up for possible failure, I encourage you to be kind to yourself. Make time for the things you like to do and allow yourself to feel good while doing them.
Continue to focus on self improvement, but don’t beat yourself up about taking time to regroup and recharge. 2021 does not need to be the year of reform, but instead the year of repair.
