New Year’s Resolutions: Not as motivational as they seem
January 7, 2016
Every year, about 45% of Americans make a list of what they wish to accomplish in a year. These New Year’s resolutions are meant to motivate people to get their life together or to stop a bad habit. But do they really motivate you?
The definition of a resolution is “a firm decision to do or not to do something.” Many resolutions don’t make it past January before they’re forgotten. Forgotten, at least, until next year when the inevitable question arises: Did you go through with your resolutions?
Researchers at the University of Scranton recently did a study that proved that only 75% of resolution makers made it through the first week. By June, halfway through the year, only 40% of the initial group kept up with their goals. The other 60% had given up or simply forgotten to take action to reach it.
One common goal is to lose a certain amount of weight in a year. Many gyms are filled in the beginning of January when the goals are fresh in people’s minds, but it’s the same every year: People move on from the matter and forget about it until the year is almost over, and the goal is unaccomplished.
Still, the same resolutions make their appearance every year, “but for real this time.” When it doesn’t get done, it just becomes a reminder of something that isn’t going right in one’s life. These get brought up around the holiday season when everyone is supposed to be cheerful, but it becomes difficult with failed goals on your mind.
New Year’s resolutions are reminders of the failed goals and bad habits you were supposed to break, but never got around to. Who would put themselves through the pain of being reminded of what they failed at around the holidays?
Disclaimer: Articles designated as “Editorial” represent the views and opinions of the author, not the 2015-2016 Periscope staff, CHS Administration, or the CHS student body.
Kaelan Felknor-Edwards • Jan 15, 2016 at 11:11 am
I agree with Emma than New Year’s Resolutions are good in theory, but in practice they are very hard to follow. Part of the problem is that people try to make an abrupt change in their lives instead of taking gradual steps. For these resolutions to succeed it is imperative to be realistic and to take manageable steps towards your goal.
Emma Bateman • Jan 14, 2016 at 8:42 am
I think that they are good in theory but starting something one day and continuing it for a whole year is incredibly challenging. I think the better route to go is to set less strict guidelines if you do make them so that you are focused towards progress and not strict rules that are easy to fail.