The moment the ball drops in New York City, 45 percent of Americans take it as a sign to change their behavior.
Many people use the new year as a motivator for self improvement. However, resolutions are often abandoned because they either aren’t realistic or they are just taken too lightly. According to University of Scranton research, only eight percent of people who attempt their new year’s resolution actually succeed at their goal.
Among the most common resolutions are getting healthier and being more responsible with money.
“My resolution this year was to finish my senior year strong, and get into a good college,” senior Seth LaTour said. “These goals have actually made me do a lot better this year, and Valparaiso has started to look at me.”
While some people follow through with their resolutions, many others don’t know how to pace themselves. They see the new year as a whole new beginning, and set large goals for themselves to meet immediately.
If simple steps are followed that are obtainable, easy, and worthwhile, someone is more likely to feel confident about reaching their overall goal.
As results begin to show, and routine becomes habit, sticking to a resolution becomes easier and easier.
“My resolution is to lose more weight by eating better and exercising more,” junior Zac Yono said. “I eat a salad at lunch every day, and I joined wrestling to get into better shape.”
Setting specific goals makes makes following through with a resolution realistic and obtainable, whereas a vague resolution, such as “getting in better shape” is often abandoned.
Another tactic that can help people follow through with their resolutions is to make their goal known with friends, family and social media, such as Twitter or Facebook. This can help people stay motivated and feel more accountable to meet their goals.
Self-confidence is also an important factor in meeting self improvement goals. Believing that every goal can and will be tackled will lead to a better outlook on the situation.
Resolutions may not be for everyone. Some people lack the willpower to last an entire year doing a certain thing or living without another, but a few simple steps can help anyone succeed.
Something that needs to be avoided while attempting a resolution is procrastination. Procrastination is a bad habit that can be overcome just by asking for help, making to-do lists, and by focusing on success.
“My new year’s resolution was to bench two-hundred and fifty pounds,” junior Josh Yeager said. “I didn’t get it, but if I could do it over again I would take things a little slower and spend more time doing better workouts in the weightroom and getting more protein in my diet.”
Sometimes doing little tasks may need a reward to go along with it for extra motivation. A reward system can propel people to push through goal after goal to eventually accomplish their resolution. After completing a goal that is preset, a favorite food or other incentive could be used to as a motivator to meet the next goal.
Every year, resolutions go down the drain shortly after they are proposed. Staying motivated, setting small and specific tasks to accomplish, and avoiding procrastination can help people stay on track.
“I think it’s good to set goals. If the new year makes people feel like they have a new start, then that’s good for them,” teacher Clinton Davis said. “But sticking to resolutions is a different story.”