New Year Resolutions: Hope or Hype?

 New Year's resolutions. (Courtesy)

I can't be the only person who ends every year with so much zeal and gusto for the new year, my resolutions in hand, only to revert to my old habits after a month or even less. Research shows that 80% of resolutions—making spur-of-the-moment decisions to make drastic, major life changes—are illogical. The new year's high dissipates, reality sets in, and resolutions go unfulfilled. It's not surprising that most people have given up on said tradition; making resolutions for tradition’s sake is...

Does this mean I will stop setting goals and resolutions? Probably not. For those of us who keep setting resolutions, why do we keep setting goals we almost always abandon? If New Year's resolutions worked, we would all be healthier, skinnier, and richer, so why do we keep doing it?

Time to hit the 'reset' button

There is something about the new year that makes it feel like a fresh start. You probably got out of a relationship, lost your job, or overindulged and want to psychologically distance yourself from your past mistakes, setbacks, and 'old you.'

The new year marks an important division in the timeline and can explain why it compels us to view the start of the year as a starting point. December 31st signifies the end of a chapter, good or bad, and setting goals signifies turning over a new chapter for most of us.

The thought that this practice is a waste of time is always lurking at the back of our minds. However, having a marker of time to reevaluate and make changes can provide hope for the future. For some of us, the 'fresh start' has enabled us to stick to some of our resolutions and make positive changes.

Setting resolutions for the sake of loved ones

One of the most popular resolutions at the end of every year is to improve finances. You find that most of us want financial freedom not only for our sake but for those we care about. A resolution to keep healthy to be around your family longer can be enough motivation to work towards your goal.

The need to be and do better for the sake of those you love and care about at the beginning of the year probably explains why you keep making those resolutions.

Setting resolutions for clarity's sake

Having New Year resolutions helps us provide a bit of clarity on where our priorities lie and helps us avoid wasting time, money, and resources on things we do not want. Life happens; we cannot predict the future or control everything. Those of us who still set resolutions know this but set resolutions to be intentional on how we want to develop and offer a clear direction as we move forward.