ALYSA PERRERAS | staff writer
Waiting for the ball to drop to make New Year's resolutions will only lead to disappointment.
The Christmas lights are gone, presents have been opened (and returned), and the New Year has surfaced and with it the list of endless resolutions. Why is it that come January we tell ourselves and everyone willing to listen that this is the year our lives are going to change? Of course this is the year.
This year we are going to follow through with our resolutions, just like all the other resolutions we made in previous years. If you are like the vast majority of Americans you are a little over two weeks into those resolutions. How is that going?
Everyone knows that January is the official launching month for major life changes. You cannot make change during the summer; November is Thanksgiving and do not even joke about trying to make those changes in December. It is the holiday season for goodness’ sake. The truth is, if you waited until January to make those changes you will probably be dusting off that list come February and wondering what happened.
“The things that people want to truly change they will change immediately. New Year’s resolutions are more idealistic,” senior finance major William Larsen said. “You need to have the will to change and you do not really have that will if you are waiting for New Year’s to do it.”
It does not take too much concerted effort to deduce that, for the most part, New Year’s resolutions normally amount to nothing but disappointment and failure. But, year after year we sit down and make our lists and the same thing happens. Within a few weeks everything we had hoped to accomplish turns fruitless. The enthusiasm, the hope and the initial New Year’s resolution excitement has fizzled out.
Albert Einstein once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” So in some ways, we resolution-makers are a bit insane. Why is it that we try over and over again to make these major life changes in January, knowing full well what the end result will be?
“I think New Year’s resolutions normally do not end well because we set ourselves up to fail by not actually thinking through the goals we set,” sophomore psychology major Elizabeth Johnson said.
If we are honestly prepared to do what it takes to change and are willing to totally commit, the time is now. And not because it is the New Year. Whether it is January or June makes absolutely no difference. Our successes or failures are not determined by the date we choose to start, but completely on our mindsets.
Unfortunately, we live in a culture that teaches us the time for new beginnings start is January. And despite all the evidence to the contrary, we continue to perpetuate this silly tradition. It is time for a new approach if we are going to make these changes stick.
“I really think that making a New Year’s resolution work depends on the person,” junior global studies and Spanish double major Dorenyse Diaz said.
The date we start does not matter; it is the mindset in which we decide to tackle these goals. New Year’s resolutions are typically nothing but short-term change, if they result in any change at all. Conversely, here are some things we can do to help us accomplish our goals.
Whatever you did last year, throw it out the window. There are reasons why you were not able to accomplish what you wanted last year. Address those reasons and act differently.
Do not try to give yourself a complete life makeover. Life is hard and we do not need more obstacles. We could all use some change in our lives and there is always room for improvement, but trying to tackle too many things at once will only leave us frustrated. Pick one or two major things you want to change and stick to it.
Do not make your list of resolutions right after the ball drops. The initial excitement of the New Year and perhaps a few adult beverages are probably going to skew your view of what is possible and realistic. You will have better luck setting up some attainable goals if you do it within the first few days after the party has ended.
Do not make ridiculously overzealous and emotional public statements. Declaring to everyone that you want to be totally satisfied and happy, ridiculously good-looking or extremely healthy is not going to help you accomplish those goals. These lofty goals are not going to be any easier to accomplish. Set specific and realistic goals within a time frame and get some accountability.
Lastly, you are going to falter, and that is okay. If the changes you are trying to make were easy, they would have already been done. Messing up is not a failure, but giving up is. Recognize the circumstances and reasons why you messed up and change them.
If you only made these resolutions because it is January, you will be looking for a reason to walk away. If you made these resolutions because you are honestly willing and ready to change, it may be possible.
Good luck. 
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