by Lauren Heaton
A resolution, according to Google, is “a firm decision to do or not to do something.” That sounds like a Shakespearean quote to me, to do or not to do. Merriam-Webster defines a resolution as the “act or process of resolving,” meaning that there is a problem to be actively solved. I am not sure I am comfortable with that definition either, simply assuming something is wrong.
According to Colorado Mesa University student Anna Nichols, “A resolution [is] an opportunity to look at your life and put it on the path that you want it to be on.”
New Year’s resolutions get a bad rap because too many people haphazardly make resolutions that aren’t likely to be kept, despite their good intentions. As a relatively optimistic person, I see a lot of good in people attempting to make self-improvements or healthier lifestyle decisions. However, our culture has lost respect for New Year’s resolutions, and they have become a marketing ploy for companies and a joke among friends.
Consequently, I propose that people wanting to make a positive change in their life set a few goals instead.
Google defines a goal as, “the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.” To me, that definition is more inspiring than the pessimistic Shakespearean definition of a resolution. What is something you would be willing to put effort into this year? What is a personal aspiration of yours that you could aim to achieve? That is what your New Year’s goal should be about.
Alright, so you have decided to set a New Year’s goal instead of a resolution, here are a few tips to increase your chances of success:
Write it down! Put this goal on a piece of paper and put that piece of paper in a place you will see it every day.
Go hard for 21 days. If you want to make a lifestyle change or start a new habit research shows that it takes 21 to pick up a new habit or stop an old habit.
Give yourself grace! You are not perfect, and these goals won’t make you perfect. A few off days here and there are to be expected. The important thing is that you don’t let the bad days outnumber the good days.
Find an accountability partner! Preferably, find someone who has goals similar to your own so that you can support each other in your ambitions. If nothing else, find a friend who is interested in making goals of their own and commit to checking in with each other.
Be bold and aspire to achieve a few New Year’s goals, not resolutions. It’s not too late!
