New Year’s resolutions have gained a bad reputation. It’s been less than a month since the calendar flipped, yet not many of us can say we’re still sticking to our resolutions.
The issue is that we often forget that these changes are ultimately for our own benefit. We get super excited, sharing our resolutions with everyone, comparing them to those of our friends and family, and chuckling about how we might not follow through on them. To actually follow through, we need to stop sharing them with others when, at the end of the day, the resolutions are really just for us.
When we talk about our resolutions with family and friends, it can backfire. This “social reality” can give us a false sense of achievement. When we share our goals, we might get this quick boost of validation that leads us to think we’ve already made progress. Unfortunately, that can take away some of our motivation to actually take the steps needed to reach those goals.
The concept of New Year’s resolutions has its roots in ancient traditions. According to an NPR article featuring an interview with Alexis McCrossen, a history professor at Southern Methodist University, the idea originated with the Ancient Romans.
“It was a day to make promises and offerings,” McCrossen said to NPR. “I think that’s the origin of our New Year’s resolution, because a resolution is a kind of promise.”
The article explains that various cultures, particularly religious ones, embraced the new year as a time for reflection and goal-setting.
However, in modern times, it seems we have lost sight of that original purpose.
An article from the European Union shares some insights from Professor Benjamin Gardner, a psychology professor at the University of Surrey in the UK. He points out that a lot of our resolutions revolve around habits we want to develop as the new year starts.
However, habits can either help us out or trip us up, depending on how consistent we are. Habits require consistency, not attention. While motivation is often high at the start of the year, it fades quickly, and public encouragement does little to replace the discipline needed for long-term change.
Not everyone agrees. Emma Roell, a University of Iowa second-year student, said declaring her resolutions can actually aid her in achieving them.
“I think when I announce something, there is a greater perceived pressure because I feel I need to hold myself accountable for the sake of others,” she said. “I also think it feels more real in a way.”
Roell feels resolutions are becoming a lost tradition.
“I feel people often make unrealistic resolutions that are hard to achieve in just a year. I think there’s value in making even small goals because those are really what set a foundation for success,” Roell said.
As the year continues, it is worth remembering that resolutions are personal commitments, not performances. By focusing on our own progress and allowing ourselves room to grow, we may find that quietly working toward our goals is more rewarding than seeking attention or praise. The real satisfaction comes from achieving something for ourselves, not from how others perceive us. This year, it may be worth keeping our resolutions a little closer.