New Year’s Resolutions
by Jessica Kovac
The New Year is always filled with expectations. Expectations from family, expectations from friends, and finally expectations from yourself to fulfill those New Year’s resolutions that never last longer than a day. I have always had mixed feelings about the New Year. On the positive, it is a day that encourages us to “think big,” follow our dreams, and accomplish our goals. On the contrary, the day gives us false expectations. Everyone comes together for 24 hours, excited to be starting fresh, but as soon as the sun rises the next day, the fear and doubt set in. People start feeling the urge to buy a candy bar, lounge in front of the television, and choose Big Bang Theory over their homework. Slowly their resolutions dissipate into tiny memories. However, New Year’s Resolutions are still a tradition, and I have a few tips on how to try and keep your New Year’s Resolutions the best you can.
1) Make your resolutions realistic.
For example, I want to stop eating fast food is not the most realistic resolution. If you want to be more healthy, make your New Year’s resolution something you know you can accomplish on a day-to-day basis, like, I will go to the gym two to three times a week, or I will start buying fresh products.
2) Find a partner.
Doing things you do not particularly enjoy is always easier with a partner. If your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight, try joining a gym with a friend and going once or twice a week. Even if you are trying to become more active, having a partner will encourage you to keep going no matter how difficult the circumstances are.
3) Start slowly and build up to it.
If your resolution is to eat healthy, you do not have to eat carrots and broccoli for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Start with substituting potatoes for a vegetable for dinner a couple nights a week. Once you have adjusted, maybe only have dessert three times a week instead of every day, and then slowly start reducing the amount.
New Year’s resolutions are a difficult, arduous process, but in the end, they can be helpful- you just have to go about it the right way.
