Yes, it’s true the Earth has completed another orbit around the sun. And society has made it seem that this complete orbit means it is time to completely change your life. Now more than ever, we see New Year’s resolutions becoming a trend with every influencer bringing you along on day five of the 75 Hard or preaching about how much Dry January has changed their lives. I get it, the New Year seems momentous, the perfect opportunity to pick up the hobby you never had time for or finally become as active as you hope to be. However, this long list of impossible things you expect from yourself within a year creates unrealistic expectations.
My main issue with New Year’s resolutions is this very thing: unrealistic expectations. We can’t expect ourselves to suddenly make time for ten new hobbies because even though the new year began, our work and school schedules didn’t change. Most New Year’s resolutions require us to make a huge change, something that can’t be done at the snap of a finger and might even require more time than a year. There is a slight chance that all our New Year’s resolutions will play out perfectly, but at the end of the day we are left agonizing over the few things we didn’t complete while forgetting to celebrate all of our victories throughout the year.
What I am getting at is that the New Year is just that: it’s a new year. So, if you don’t have a list of things you want to change or you are just enjoying the moment, there is no need to feel like you’re not doing enough. Just because every influencer on TikTok is convinced that their lives have changed because of their new lifestyle does not mean that you too need to make these changes. Whatever you are doing up until now is enough and it’s time we begin to recognize ourselves for who we are rather than comparing ourselves to people who have completely different lifestyles.
Now, this is not to say that it’s useless to set goals and better yourself. Trying to become the best version of yourself is something we should all strive for every day, not just when the calendar refreshes. Make goals for yourself every day or whenever you need to; the beginning and end of the year are not timers. Whenever the time feels right or the opportunity arises, go after what you want. Yes, the new year seems like a perfect time to click refresh, and if this is a method that has worked for you, continue to do so. But for all my fellow non-resolutioners who feel like they have missed out on the perfect opportunity to become the person they have always wanted, this is a reminder that you don’t have to force those changes to align with any calendar change.