Each year everyone starts out the year very excited with the idea of starting anew. New Year’s resolutions have been around for years; some people love them, some people hate them, and some people couldn’t care less about them. From life-changing resolutions to small goals like walking more often, millions make resolutions each year, and only some of those people stick to them. The key seems to be setting goals for yourself that you are prepared to work for. 

New Year’s resolutions can be interpreted and adhered to differently depending on each person. There are radical resolutions and everyday ones. Generally, younger people choose resolutions regarding school or their daily activities each year. As people grow and mature through their life goals, their resolutions also begin to mature and become richer. A more common resolution for a mature person who wants to enhance their life, for example, is to go to college, to find a job, to buy a car, or to rent their own place to become independent. Although our resolutions or goals may be different depending on our age or reasoning, all resolutions enhance our desire to continue growing individually and as a person.

Many studies have shown that big unattainable goals are followed by disappointment. In a 2020 study conducted by YouGov, 7% of U.S. adults fulfilled their last New Year’s resolution. Why is that? Although only 7% of the question base answered they had completed their last resolution, 29% were confident they would stick with their resolution for the coming year. Rounding out the survey, 19% stuck to some of their resolutions, whereas 8% didn’t keep to any of their resolutions. 

Ohio University recommends these four things for a successful change in general:

• Goals should come at a time of change or at a time where change needs to occur.
• Expect challenges, change doesn’t come easily. 
• Set goals in challenging but small steps.
• Find a way to keep yourself accountable.

Many people find themselves trapped in a resolution that becomes infinitely more difficult to complete as the pressure increases. Resolutions and goals can be important parts of improving a life, but when pressure and failure are introduced, it becomes that much harder to change. 

We interviewed some school students, and many of them said that they are preparing to enter universities, and others said that they want to change their lifestyle habits. Although it is not easy, it is never too late to try something you want to achieve. Students think a lot about their future, work, or projects they want to do this year. To achieve those goals, they try hard and work to have one more achievement, and their achievements multiply every day. The more success we achieve, the more success we strive for. 

While New Year’s resolutions have been a concept and a well-known way to make goals for self-improvement for quite some time, some believe they are more harmful than helpful. When people set achievable goals for themselves and follow through they can be beneficial, both in eliciting change and increasing confidence; however, the number of people that set goals each year and fail to complete them feel discouraged at the thought of making another resolution for the new year that they could fail at once more.

Japanese teacher Akemi Bond believes resolutions to be beneficial.

“I think it’s helpful,” Bond said. “Without a goal you are going nowhere; the goal is important.”

Junior Joe Angel agrees.

“Resolutions give you time to think about what you want to do before the year ends, and it’s going to help you grow,” he said.

All in all, it comes down to setting manageable and achievable goals for yourself because a failed goal can be discouraging. 

There are many ways to make change. Resolutions can be harmful to some and helpful to others; knowing yourself, your limits and your capacities is the most important part of making a successful change. Set goals you are confident you can complete, and don’t get discouraged on the path to change.