New Year’s resolutions are a big part of holiday celebrations, although they are often criticized because many are given up within a month of being made. However, I strongly believe that the tradition of these resolutions is still very beneficial. The New Year offers people a rare opportunity to pause, and both reflect on the past year and be more intentional going into the next. Even though people may give up on their resolutions, the fact that they made one demonstrates an effort to change, which is arguably better than not trying at all. So, while the actual results of resolutions are sometimes limited, they are still a good thing because they give people an opportunity to make positive changes in their lives.
One important thing to consider is that some resolutions may be healthier or better than others. This holiday can sometimes cause people to feel like they have to change themselves. And with toxic influencers that portray unrealistic, glamorized versions of their lives online, this could lead people to set impossible or unhealthy goals. Then they could feel more disappointed when they don’t reach those goals. But, I do believe that it is possible for people to set realistic and healthy goals that prioritize growth over perfection just by changing up the wording of their goals. For example, the goal “go to the gym everyday” could be reworded into something less strict, like “go to the gym more often.” This simple fix allows people to set real goals for themselves without the extreme pressure and the possibility of failure if they simply miss one day. So, it can be conceded that resolutions can lead to feelings of guilt or disappointment, but I don’t think the whole concept of them is bad; people should just be thoughtful when they set them.
Another issue with resolutions is the fact that if someone really wanted to change themself they could just do it at any time and not wait until New Year’s. And honestly, I agree. People shouldn’t feel confined by the holiday; growth and change is a process, not a singular moment decided on New Year’s. But, I also don’t think that takes away from the value of New Year’s resolutions, if anything it may even support it. If people can acknowledge the importance of growth and change, then why hate on a tradition that values and creates the opportunity for that? Sure it would be great if people just changed whenever they wanted, but the truth is that often people are so busy with life that they don’t feel like they have the time to sit down, reflect, and figure out what they should be doing differently. New Year’s creates a set aside time where people are encouraged to do this. It gives people who may have already been wanting to set goals and make changes the time to do that. So, while I agree that New Year’s shouldn’t be the only time for reflection and goal setting, it is still helpful that our society has set aside time for it.
In the fast paced modern world, which doesn’t easily allow space for people to reflect, the holiday tradition of resolutions is a breath of fresh air. It benefits society that this value of growing and improving oneself has not been forgotten but has instead become a central part of a major holiday. I do not think it’s fair to judge resolutions solely based on the results they yield, but instead the concept of resolutions should be judged on the intention behind it and the opportunity for change that it creates.
