There is an old joke about a girl who makes a resolution to finally go to the gym in the New Year. On Jan. 1 she proudly walks into the gym, goes to the front desk, and asks to cancel her membership. As funny and relatable as this joke can be, it does raise a real question: “Do New Year’s resolutions even matter?” After all, if someone really wanted to do something, they could do it at any time during the year. Why wait until Jan. 1?
According to a 2024 survey by Pew Research Center, about 30% of Americans will make at least one New Year’s resolution. Younger adults are even more likely to partake in this age-old tradition: nearly 50% of Americans aged 18 to 29 will make at least one resolution every year. Here at our school, academic resolutions clearly seem to dominate.
“I want to get better grades this year,” says sophomore Harrison Feinblum.
“My new year’s goal is to succeed in my classes for the second semester,” said sophomore Jacob Kowal.
Considering the pressure and competitiveness of our academic environment, it is no surprise that students use the new year as motivation to turn things around. If even a small percentage of students manage to raise their grades, then new year’s resolutions are arguably beneficial.
Another common New Year’s resolution is related to fitness; men frequently aim to gain muscle mass and women often hope to lose weight. This is never more obvious than when entering the gym in the first week of January to find that it is suddenly swarming with faces never seen before. This can be especially irksome to those who work out regularly throughout the year, but come February, the gym crowd inevitably thins out. Winter makes it harder to feel motivated, and the new year gives us a convenient excuse to try to be our healthiest selves. When any of these individuals actually maintains their new gym and/or nutritional routine, it can be deduced that new year’s resolutions are purposeful and worthwhile.
January and February are typically the bleakest and coldest times of the year when most people want to hibernate. This weather can take a toll on our mental health.
“I want to be in a better mood each day,” said sophomore Jake Leber.
There are various ways to lift our moods, including gratitude journals, exercise, and daily sunlight. By springtime, this goal is bolstered by warmer temperatures and imminent summer plans. Incorporating small daily habits to help support broad resolutions is the best way to ensure that one maintains stamina throughout the year in adhering to one’s goals.
Additional goals often include learning a new skill, for example learning how to ride a bike or traveling around the world, but many simply look to spend more time with friends and family. In a 1970s experiment led by Bruce K. Alexander about addiction and rats, it was found that the rats exposed to various joys in life, including friends, family, and activities, were less likely to drink the liquid laced with heroin as opposed to the pure water. This demonstrates the very basic principle that humans at the most simplistic level most enjoy interacting with others, perhaps explaining why it is a very popular New Year’s resolution.
Commitment to new goals tends to drop precipitously as the weeks pass.
Mark Twain famously commented, “New Year’s Day: now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.”
Sticking to resolutions requires a few changes that almost anyone can achieve: small, actionable habits toward your goal, and consistent behavior. Ambitious and lofty resolutions are harder to accomplish, so start by setting realistic targets. If your objective is better grades, set a timer each day to study without distraction and review that day’s material. If fitness is your priority, aim to work out 2-3 times per week and learn to cook some easy and healthy meals. If you are saving money for a specific purpose, create a budget and earmark some portion toward savings. Perhaps identify an accountability partner or coach to track your progress.
Although commitment to resolutions is inconsistent, and many people give up within a short period of time, there are some people who do create new habits and progress. The simple practice of writing down goals or developing new strategies to improve oneself is reason enough to make resolutions. In this way, resolutions definitely serve a purpose. They should be realistic and ideally broken down into smaller tasks. You should celebrate wins and accept that there will be setbacks. And if all else fails, make a resolution to stop procrastinating. You can always start tomorrow.