New Year’s Eve sounds like a beautiful time for change with the extravagant decor, sparkling apparel and dazzling disco lights, but among these preppy parties and celebrations of new beginnings is something much more in depth than a simple champagne toast.
As we ring in the new year, thus begins a month of people mapping out new versions of themselves in 2024. Going from the chaos of the holidays to the jumbled weeks of January, people are just trying to get back into their routine, and the last thing that should be on their minds is how to get into perfect shape by February.
Whether it is to eat healthier, exercise more or simply put away your laundry right when it gets out of the dryer, everyone has a New Year’s resolution or some way in which they want their livelihoods to improve. However, if we are being honest, you will probably have to continue to hop over that clean laundry pile as it sits wrinkly on the floor until you have worn pieces here and there, the whole thing is practically dirty again and the vicious cycle continues.
The mindset of “New Year, New You” is generally one that is supposed to be positive and uplifting. It should give hope for a “better you.” But why only save it for the new year? Why not change habits as they progress? I think that most of the time, it is because people want change, but we feel we need an excuse to change rather than just going ahead and making the changes on our own.
“I think people shouldn’t sit down and think about how to better themselves only once a year,” said Danielle Cliburn, a sophomore exercise science major. “That should be something they do all year round.”
Everyone is always in such a rush. Chaos reigns over most of our lives as we busy ourselves like bees just to stay in tune with society. If I look a certain way, spend my time a specific way or buy the hottest new thing, then I will be satisfied. Most of the time, that is not the case because, in most instances, when we finally get what we want, we just move on to the next thing on our list.
“New Year, New You” is just propaganda for companies to get people to spend more money on more things that they do not need. After people have spent their entire paychecks on the newest color of the trending Stanley Cup, then what? Is having a hot pink thermos with a straw actually going to motivate anyone to stay hydrated or gain an inclination to go to the gym? I do not think so.
According to Patient Info Newspaper, using an app to track participants’ fitness progress, it analyzed that 800 million of its users were most likely to give up on their resolutions by Jan. 19.
When people do not see substantial progress in just a week, they lose interest. When the high finally wears off, so does the motivation for a “new you.”
I think most of us go to the gym a few times and then feel satisfied enough to take a small break. This break turns from a day to a week to a month, then never stepping foot in the gym until the following January, when we do it all over again.
The mediocrity of “New Year, New You” is so prevalent in today’s society. Trying to reinvent your whole identity over the span of one month is impossible, so it is understandable as to why most people do not follow through with their resolutions. It is just too great of a goal in such little time. What about someone changes overnight from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1? Not enough to become a new person entirely.
If we are being real here, it may be a new year, but you are the same you. After midnight, you are not all of a sudden a brand new person. You are the same as you were 60 seconds ago. The calendar has just moved from ‘23 to ‘24.
People do not have to wait to change their undesired habits just once a year. Progress is seen over time, so people should not wait for the month of January to have a life they desire.
The time to become the best version of yourself is when you decide to make that change and go after it. It may not come with confetti or a kiss at midnight, but it will make an impact on your life. When you make up your mind to see a difference in yourself, you should not have to wait for everyone else to countdown to the new year to make it into a reality.
