The Illusion of New Year's Resolutions: Embracing Lifestyle Changes Today

Small attainable steps to lifestyle changes are not driven by changing of the year on a calendar, they are driven by the need for the individual to make the change stick.

We’re 11 days into the new year. How are your resolutions going?

We can all agree that New Year's resolutions are often characterized by ambitious goals that may be impractical or unattainable. Sadly, though it is this pressure to make grand changes within a short timeframe sets individuals up for failure. This combined with that initial surge of false motivation that accompanies a “brand New Year” tends to be fleeting and unsustainable. The problem is that external factors, such as societal expectations and the excitement of a fresh start, may drive initial enthusiasm, but these motivations are unreal and will wane as the year progresses.

New Year resolutions often promote an all-or-nothing mentality. People feel compelled to adhere strictly to their goals; often having never done something like this before. For example, the person who resolves to run a 10k marathon in 2024. Their first week of training involves a running schedule that will soon burn them out and make them feel like they chose the wrong resolution this year.  This binary approach can be discouraging, leading to abandonment when faced with inevitable setbacks.

The problem is that waiting for a specific date to make positive changes can inadvertently encourage procrastination. On Friday, just before going to that party, you resolve to hit that intermittent fasting diet bright and early Monday morning. But, come Monday you find some excuse to continue to farce. Similarly, the mindset that change can only occur at the beginning of the year postpones personal development and reinforces a cycle of delay.

Lifestyle changes should ideally be viewed as an ongoing process rather than a one-time event. Instead of big changes start with small steps. Adopting this perspective encourages a gradual, sustainable approach to personal growth, where setbacks are acknowledged as part of the journey. Initiating lifestyle changes immediately allows individuals to break free from the cyclical pattern of setting resolutions, experiencing initial motivation, and subsequently abandoning their goals. This shift in mindset promotes consistency and perseverance. Rather than succumbing to the pressure of dramatic resolutions, we should focus on setting realistic, achievable short- and long-term goals. Breaking down larger objectives into smaller, manageable steps increases the likelihood of success.

Instead of waiting for the New Year to reflect on personal growth, we should engage in continuous self-reflection. This ongoing process facilitates a deeper understanding of oneself, fostering meaningful and sustainable change. A rigid adherence to resolutions often leads to frustration when faced with unexpected challenges. Embracing flexibility allows for adjustments to goals based on changing circumstances, promoting adaptability and resilience.

The ephemeral nature of motivation and the unrealistic expectations associated with resolutions contribute to a cycle of disappointment and spiralling despair. Instead of waiting for an arbitrary date to make positive changes, let us embrace the idea of lifestyle changes as an ongoing, immediate process. By setting realistic goals, fostering continuous improvement, and embracing flexibility, individuals can break free from the constraints of the New Year's resolution paradigm, fostering a more meaningful and sustainable approach to personal health and wellbeing. The journey towards a better self begins not on a specific date but with a commitment to change today.

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Bio: Brian Sankarsingh is a Trinidadian-born Canadian immigrant who moved to Canada in the 1980s. He describes himself as an accidental poet, with a passion for advocacy and a penchant for prose, an unapologetic style, he offers his poetry as social and political commentary.