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January 1—we all know what that means. It’s time to get organized, start that diet, or maybe start saving money for that trip you want to take.
The thought is always the same; people use the New Year as a benchmark to change or improve an aspect of their life. Although the intention is always good, the newness of resolutions wears off, and people simply return to the grind of daily life.
So when did New Year’s resolutions become such a novelty? More and more, resolutions have become insignificant—just another component of an already over-commercialized holiday season—instead of having true weight. Usually there is no real intent to make a major commitment. Why else then, would there be unparalleled numbers of gym memberships during the month of January? The goal of weight loss is one of the most cliché resolutions, but also a perfect example of where resolutions tend to fail.
Personally, I’m an avid gym-goer and why not? The University has a great gym, and we all pay for it so I like to take advantage. I’m also sure that I’m not the only one who has noticed how packed the gym is right at the start of the new year, but the numbers tend to dwindle as the months go on. School picks up, you get some extra shifts at work, and the social life takes precedence. As our other obligations become relevant again after the holiday season, the commitment to resolutions fades.
Although there are certainly some who stick to their goals, the overwhelming majority seem to fall into that category of “wanting change without the commitment”. To make true resolve, there needs to be an enduring effort on the part of the goal setter. The idea of New Year’s resolutions always comes off as a casual effort. This attitude chips away at the fundamental reasons for making a resolution in the first place.
All of us get frustrated—it’s a natural part of life, but to truly achieve a personal goal, you have to work for it. You have to commit to it. You have to focus on it. Without your work, your dedication and your focus, nothing fully can be achieved.
So what hope is there for the rest of us then? Certainly all resolutions are not a lost cause. But it takes a true drive to stick to those new goals, whatever they may be. Whether it is getting better grades in the upcoming semester, getting in shape, or being more organized, the success depends on you.
Making goals without the intention of following through is a waste, a disappointment. Make a plan, and follow through with it. Erase the cynicism surrounding promises of the new year, and join in resolving to resolute.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Taryne Tosetti at Taryne.tosetti@colorado.edu
