New Year, New Me
By SAMAIYA JULY ‘28 AND DIYA SANDEEP ‘28
The turn of the year often brings the familiar phrase: “New Year, New Me.” It is a promise and a hope for change within society. But what specifically makes this such a compelling time to reflect? The answer lies in cultural traditions, societal expectations, and the universal desire for growth.
In today’s society, New Year’s resolutions are a trademark of the season. As a new year comes, so does the chance for a fresh start. Every year, millions of people try to seize their chance to self-improve, develop new skills, and become more accountable. And every year, the majority of them end up giving up halfway.
While New Year’s resolutions can be a great opportunity to convince yourself to change things you’ve already been hoping to work on throughout the last year, they are fundamentally flawed — which is why we see so many people give up just weeks or days after they’ve settled on their new goals.
A resolution is defined as “a firm decision to do or not do something.” But when the basis of this decision comes from following a crowd, or the resolutions themselves are too grand, it becomes impossible to carry out tasks that there wasn’t enough motivation to care about anyway. The pressure of societal norms or sheer exhaustion makes retaining resolutions incredibly hard. These reactions highlight the tension between aspirational goals and realistic expectations.
One of the most persistent problems of New Year’s resolutions is their short life spans. Many people abandon their goal within weeks, attributing it to their failures, usually due to either lack of time, resources, or motivation. This pattern has given rise to setting more sustainable goals rather than relying on a single moment of transformative change. While resolutions should be firm, they should also be achievable and they should work for you and your needs. After all, the point of creating resolutions is to help yourself get to a better point in your life and that version may change over time.
For example, you want to hit the gym. Start by setting a goal to go three days a week. However, if you find that your schedule or energy levels don’t support this plan, it’s perfectly acceptable to adjust your resolution. Goals should be flexible; revisiting and revising them doesn’t equate to failure. Remember, just because you can’t achieve a goal immediately doesn’t mean you should abandon it entirely.
There is also a huge lack of accountability. New Year’s resolutions often aren’t met due to societal pressure and personal self-consciousness. Many of us pick goals and then don’t create ways to hold ourselves to them. If you are making a resolution, you should also find opportunities to get other people involved.
We can see the huge effect this has across platforms. People keep up their Duolingo streaks because it is something they can show other people and they get nudges from their friends that also use the app. Snapchat streaks continue because those that start them are scared to break them and annoy the other half. Returning to the gym example, if you can find someone to go with you, and make it a necessary part of your day-to-day life, you are already more likely to force yourself to go.
And resolutions shouldn’t just be limited to the start of a new year. Every day is a new day, and you are always able to make a change. If you are trying to read more, it is as simple as picking up a book. If you are trying to cut spending, then it’s as simple as telling yourself no when you want to buy something you don’t need. They show in the little things that are possible any time of the year, not just when it’s starting.
Resolutions can be small or big, but you should have a personal stake in them that makes sticking to them worth it. When your goals are tied to your values and aspirations, they become more meaningful and easier to commit to. Instead of aiming for perfection, focus on consistency and celebrate the small victories along the way of reaching your major goal. This approach allows your goals to be much more attainable than they previously would have been.
