In past years, around January 1, we have always heard so much talk about New Year’s resolutions and how a new year will bring “a new me.” Quite noticeably, though, there has been less talk about peoples’ dreams for this 2024 new year. Memes about lessons learned in overestimating have brought forth the question: Are we getting tired of setting resolutions that we don’t tend to reach?
Ever since I was a child, I remember making a big deal out of the New Year. I would write down all my resolutions on paper and hang them in my room, hoping to have each one crossed out after 12 months had gone by. Every year though, without fail, I would take down that paper with barely any resolutions completed and write them on the next year’s list, or I would forget about them completely. It seems as if everyone else is realizing they have been doing the same thing.
A new year is exciting and big, so we want to make big changes in our lives. But is it possible that we are setting the bar too high? A goal of going to the gym three times a week is much easier than one to go every day of the week, and losing 5 pounds of weight is much easier than losing 10. Still, we set higher standards for ourselves, most of which we are unable to achieve. We think that we know where we want to be in a year, but can we actually get there?
When it comes to New Year’s resolutions, I believe that they are helpful, but only if we are realistic in our goals. In the book “Atomic Habits,” author James Clear writes about how true change happens through systems, not goals. These systems help us reach small wins, which achieve goals over time. I am barely halfway through this read and have discovered great lessons to help me achieve my goals, and would recommend it to anyone looking to do the same. In fact, in order to stay consistent in reading this book, I plan on creating a system to read for about 10 minutes before I go to sleep, which will eventually help me accomplish my goal of finishing the book.
To answer the question asked in the beginning: yes. It seems as if the world has grown tired of writing down their hopes and dreams for the New Year, only to realize they are unable to achieve them. In the future, if we want to see real change, we need to work on putting into practice systems that will eventually help us achieve our goals, whether this year or the next, or even in 10 years. If you want to write a book, sit and write for 10-15 minutes a day, and it will eventually come together. If you want to learn a language, spend 10-15 minutes on Duolingo a day, and you’ll be fluent soon enough.
It is becoming clearer that the previous mindset of “this is what I want to do this year so I am going to do it” is unreliable. Instead, we should focus on the mindset that a “baby steps is still movement.” It is the smallest changes that can help us make big moves in our lives, we just need to put in the work and trust in the process. This new year, don’t be discouraged if a completely “new you” doesn’t come out on the other side. As long as the new you is in the works, little by little, you’re almost there.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.