New year, new harmful behaviors
By Alivia Williams
Image provided by ccnull.de
It’s come to be that time of year again when everyone’s motivation spikes but ultimately, has no follow-through or adherence to the goals long-term. New Year’s resolutions date back to 4,000 years ago when the ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods as a way to be in good favor if they kept their resolutions throughout the year. This tradition has followed humans throughout the years and has progressed to something quite different today.
Why do people make resolutions?
Come January, people feel a sense of obligation to wipe the slate clean and become a better version of themselves. While this is a great goal to have, oftentimes the intentions one begins with are either the wrong reasons for wanting change, or they simply aren’t ready to change.
Why are these behaviors harmful to us?
The general trend of “new year, new me” creates a recurring feeling of obligation at the beginning of each year. It is seen as the perfect time to begin a project, kick a bad habit or form a good one. Unfortunately, this feeling of great determination is only time relevant, which is why many give up on their proclaimed “resolution.” Indulging oneself in the idea that we should constantly be changing for the better and that it should be a quick process is a distorted perspective of how change should be. Not only is a strict timeframe anxiety-inducing, but this view causes a feeling of decreased self-esteem as it’s nearly impossible to rush change and expect things to work out the first time. When failure occurs, people get so caught up in the sore feeling rather than taking a small time to grieve that attempt, but get up and reevaluate what they need to do next. It can be hard to recognize what is and what is not in one’s control. Certain goals require extra support, time, consistency, etc. Although, when one minor roadblock occurs, one can be so quick to beat themselves up over a simple mistake.
What does it take to change?
If one wants to be successful in accomplishing their goal, it must be initiated with small steps and built gradually over time. Additionally, it must be met with conscientious planning. There’s a greater chance of success when someone knows exactly what they’re reaching for, and the steps needed to get there. Acknowledging the exact issue is the first step; then comes experimenting. There is not one true way to lose weight, get good grades or increase productivity. This is why failure is essential to success. When one method doesn’t work, try again. Also, it may be helpful to set up “mini-goals” in order to accomplish the main goal (if applicable). The idea is to make the large objective seem less intimidating by breaking it down into simpler components. The most important takeaway is that fruitful change happens when one is ready- asking inward why the change is necessary and accepting the effort it will take.