Ariel’s point of view:

It’s that time of the year. You constantly hear the phrase “new year, new me” semi-sarcastically. The thing is, are New Year’s resolutions even necessary? There are many resolutions I can think of off the top of my head that people, especially college students, quit mid-January.  

It may seem a little pessimistic, but I think that New Year’s resolutions open us up for failure. Now, before judging that statement, let me explain.  

Most resolutions are unrealistic and that’s why we abandon them. It’s good to set goals for yourself, but it leads to this mentality. If you say, “I’ll go to gym every day,” or “I’m going to go vegan,” and you slip up, then you fall back into old habits and abandoned these so-called “goals.”  

We become too critical as we reassess our weaknesses and things we need to improve on. Then we punish ourselves when our resolutions don’t go as planned. People aim for an overnight shift, but change is a process.  

On a similar note, I feel strongly about resolutions because if you really want it, then just do it. If you feel the need to start something at the beginning of the year, then ask why you are doing it? Where do your priorities lie?  

The whole idea of resolutions feeds into procrastination because it can give you an excuse to push your goals off until a certain date. If a person realizes a goal in October or November, they shouldn’t feel like they need to wait. Jump into the deep end. Carpe diem. 

There is a lot of pressure to not only create these goals, but to share and complete them with friends and family. Sharing them with others, however, seems counterproductive. It can feel like a competition to keep up with others as they work toward their goals. Not to mention, there’s extra pressure because people are keeping up with your progress. It gets intense and stressful if the goal is too lofty. 

New Years is a time of reflection. Don’t discourage yourself from your goals; every day is a fresh start. Take it and run with it. 

Katy’s point of view:

The New Year is upon us, and as we come back to class you may hear this simple question from your peers: “What are your New Year’s resolutions?”  

Resolutions are a corner stone of the New Year. They mark new chapters of our lives, ones where we are smarter, fitter, or all-around better people. They show that we have decided as individuals that we want to change and that we have the power to do so.  

The act of making a resolution is akin to re-taking the reins of your own life. Recently, however, New Year’s resolutions have fallen to the wayside. They are hard to maintain, and many people end up giving up within the first few weeks. So what’s the point? Improvement, of yourself and of the things around you. 

Self-betterment can happen at any time of the year, of course, but having a date to aim for and a specific time frame to accomplish these goals can add a sense of structure to your plan. There’s a quote by Antoine de Saint Exupéry that states, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.”  

By creating a timeline of change starting on the first day of the New Year, you are setting yourself up for success by creating said plan. It’s like working out to a song – you know when to start and when to end. 

Another benefit of a New Year’s resolution is getting support from others. Having a group of people to keep you accountable helps tremendously in the self-betterment area, and since many people are keen to make New Year’s resolutions, you can trade resolutions and keep track of one another’s progress.  

Sure, it may make the task feel like a competition, but that only serves to make you want to work harder to succeed. At the end of the year, you will have accomplished something great, and you will be closer than ever to your friends that helped you through it.  

Finally, a New Year’s resolution is beneficial because it reminds you of what you are capable of. It reminds you of the power you have to be great and to do great things. New Year’s resolutions are hard, but just because they seem difficult does not mean they are impossible. 

 If you don’t make resolutions, then more power to you; if you do, then keep it up! On Jan. 1, 2020 you’ll be proud you did.