Picture this, it’s early January, you are lounging on the couch trying to convince yourself to follow through with your New Year’s resolution.
You pull yourself up and go to the gym, that counts as completed, right?
Bet you didn’t have too much trouble picturing that one, we’ve all been there. Very rarely will we follow through with our New Year New Me promises, but we continue to make them.
Except for my mom, she said she stopped making New Year’s resolutions because she’d never keep them.
Once Christmas ends, it’s all you hear. For about 10 days, until you realize it’s just not possible to go to the gym every day.
Power to the people that keep their resolutions though, I am just not one of those people.
They seem great in theory: a commitment to do something, better yourself, learn from your mistakes, but who’s keeping you to that promise? Well, this year, I’m holding some of my friends, family, and Instagram followers, accountable.
I asked around, on Instagram and in person, receiving New Year’s resolutions aplenty. They actually made me feel kind of bad, I wish I could make those kinds of commitments.
So, without further ado, I call this piece: New Year’s resolutions that will definitely be, no, will maybe be, no, have a very slim possibility of being kept.
Sammy: “(I want to) continue trying to be a happier and healthier person.”
Brittany: “(I want to) read more books, try and run a 5K, (and have) less [sic] social media time.”
Jenna: “(I want to) save money, stop buying things that aren’t necessities, and to be more active.”
Kenzie: “(I want to) get back into running. Get decent shoes and everything.”
Liv: “(I want to) learn how to longboard.”
Tessa: “(I want to) take more risks.”
Brittany: “(I want to) do more of what makes my heart happy (and) put aside time to be more creative.”
Lena: “(I want to) eat better.”
Kevin: “I want to be more honest with myself.”
Lori: “(I want to) pet more dogs.” Me too Lori, me too.
Breagh: “(I want to practise) minimalism.”
Megan: “(I want to) practise more mindfulness activities.”
Kaleb: “I want to record something musical — album, EP, maybe even just a song. And also get better at making bread.”
Melissa: “(I want to) go to the gym at least once a week.”
Kate: “(I want to) go to the gym, stop saying I hate myself all the time, and to cook more.”
Haley: “I would like to volunteer more, learn to cook — like actually cook — and learn to appreciate myself.”
So overall, my friends have some really good resolutions. And they all seem pretty achievable too.
Maybe I should make some resolutions of my own. I definitely want to start standing up for myself, become a healthier person between food and exercise, learn to play at least one instrument preferably either ukulele or piano, go easier on myself when it comes to school, and cook more meals that aren’t just chicken and rice.
I think when people look at the new year as a way to completely reinvent themselves, it isn’t realistic. But by setting small goals like practising minimalism, taking more risks, being happier and more self-appreciative — it creates just that small bit of motivation that you might need to one day reach the ideal person you’d like to be.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t do that all year long. Set monthly goals or weekly goals to hold yourself accountable.
New Year New Me is great in theory, extremely difficult in practice. Don’t beat yourself up if your resolution falls through, just pick yourself up and continue learning to better yourself because life can be hard.
I think the one resolution though that is absolutely unacceptable if it falls through is to pet more dogs. Petting more dogs should be everyone’s New Year’s resolution for 2020. So happy 2020 everyone, go pet more dogs.
Hannah Rudderham is a graduate of Riverview High School in Coxheath. She is studying digital journalism and new media at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B.