After the ball drops and you share your New Year’s kiss, it’s the perfect time to scream out your resolution that will maybe last a whole day—if you’re lucky. Every year, resolutions seem to include losing weight, finding love, and saving money. But are high schoolers really even committed to making one?
Urban Dictionary states the truth about New Year’s resolutions. It defines them as “the things you promise yourself you will do over the year, but quit after the first two weeks.” Most people couldn’t find this more accurate. We are our own hardest critics and coming down on ourselves after the most joyous time of the year puts us in a funk.
According to an article written by Business Insider in 2017, 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. So why do we set ourselves up for failure? Winter is already depressing enough, so please save yourself and don’t bother coming up with one.
Between college apps, sports, and the piles of school work we all receive, we don’t need the added stress of another task and the post-depression after we fail to fulfill our new year’s goal. Students don’t have time to find love, and really shouldn’t be concerned with that in high school. It’s a time for learning from mistakes and having fun—not drowning yourself in ridiculous resolutions that you can worry about when you’re retired.
It’s the 21st century. I thought we weren’t supposed to be worrying about what others think of us or our so called “love life?”
Sure, losing weight sounds great, but you’re setting yourself up for self-disappointment as soon as you step on the scale and see your hard work just has not paid off, unless you are of a rare breed whose motivation levels are through the roof.
So when your parents ask you what your 2019 resolution will be, don’t be afraid of the disappointment from them that lasts a whole ten minutes, when you say you won’t be participating in the cliché. You’re helping yourself in the long haul.
If you’re still feeling determined to prove me wrong, at least set a goal that’s realistic and maybe even short-term. You might as well save yourself from disappointment, a feeling that’s not-so-helpful during the winter time. And plus, no one wants to see your finsta rant when it happens.
Short-term goals might be the smarter choice with our busy lives, but even so make sure they are attainable.
Start your new year off right and be content with yourself. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Best of luck!