Hello everyone, and welcome to my blog. This is my first post this year, and honestly my first post in a long while now. Writer’s block maybe? I don’t know. But I guess all of us come to a point in our lives when we are faced with too much, and have to take a break to unwind, so as to return to our normal lives. So, let’s just take it that I’m back from my break….and ready to start again.🤗
It’s still January, so I guess I’m well within my rights to wish everyone a Happy New Year.🎊
So yes, it’s a new year for us, and the new year usually symbolizes fresh beginnings. We see it as a chance to start anew by setting goals for ourselves. These goals are what we refer to as our new year’s resolutions, which are promises or commitments to make a change or improve ourselves in some way.
However, the validity of new year’s resolutions and their effectiveness in actually achieving the desired change is a topic of much debate.
On one hand, some of us argue that new year’s resolutions are not a valid way to make real change in our lives. They point out that many resolutions are made with little to no planning or thought, and are often abandoned soon after they are made. Kind of looks like impulsive purchases, impulsive goals and decisions that are just made at the spur of the moment.
Additionally, they may be overly ambitious and unrealistic, which can lead to feelings of failure and disappointment when they are not achieved.
On the other hand, another set of us argue that New Year’s resolutions can be a powerful tool for self-improvement and personal growth. They also point out that setting specific and measurable goals can help to focus one’s efforts and provide a sense of direction. Additionally, the act of making a commitment to change can be motivating and provide a sense of accountability, which can help to increase the chances of success.
So yes, it is true that new year resolutions could be seen as a double edged sword. Without proper planning and consideration, they can set us up for incredible disappointment. Many of us set vague and unrealistic goals, such as “I want to lose weight” or “I want to be happier,” without any specific plan or strategy for achieving them. This often leads to us giving up on their resolutions within a few weeks or worse, even days into the new year.
However, upon proper research, it has also been seen that people who set specific, measurable, and realistic goals, and actually make distinct plans towards achieving them, are without a doubt, mostly successful in this feat.
For example, instead of setting a goal to simply “lose weight,” you could set a goal to “lose 10 pounds in the next six months by working out at least three times a week, and cutting out carbonated drinks and junk food.” This type of goal is specific, measurable, and feasible, and has a distinct plan of action. We could also break down this plan into smaller steps to aid us achieving them.
Another key to success with our new year’s resolutions is to focus on a small number of goals at a time, instead of trying to tackle several plans at once. Setting multiple goals at once can be overwhelming and we most times find it difficult to achieve in the end. It’s better to focus on a small number of goals and put all the energy and effort towards achieving them.
Moreover, new year’s resolutions can be effective in achieving personal growth and self-improvement, even if they might not always result in achieving the desired change. The process of setting and working towards a goal can help us to identify our values and priorities, and to gain a better understanding of ourselves. Thus, we feel a sense of pride even when we didn’t completely achieve our set goals.
In essence, the validity of New Year’s resolutions is a matter of perspective. It depends on how we approach it. When it comes to personal improvement and self-growth, setting specific and realistic goals, along with a plan of action, can make a real difference, but without proper planning, dedication, and above all, discipline, New Year’s resolutions is basically empty promise that we make to ourselves.
Thank you all for reading, and have a wonderful day.🌹🥰