Happy New Year!
Well, we made it to 2013. Give yourself a well-deserved (?) pat on the back.
It’s that time of year which sees people looking nostalgically back on the previous twelve months, boasting about the things that they have done and sweeping the things they wish they hadn’t done under the carpet whilst muttering ‘new year, new start…’
I’m not one for making New Year’s resolutions, usually because I know that I will never stick to them. I also believe that if you want to change something or do something differently, then you should set to right away rather than waiting for a milestone.
On the other hand, some people need this marker to give them the courage to do what they desire. If there is a set date when you have to start the diet/give up smoking/try new things (delete appropriately) then there will be a build up period where you can psyche yourself into a state of panic before the day eventually arrives. It also provides you with ample time to overdose on cupcakes/cigarettes/doing nothing (delete appropriately) because you have the excuse that you will change it… soon.
I think the New Year and therefore the resolutions that come with it are a bit of a farce, only serving to provide a distraction during January, the most depressing month of the year. It provides us with the chance to obsess over one thing (or two or three, depending on how long your scroll of resolutions is), rather than look at why we haven’t done something about it sooner.
Why do we even need to change?
And then there’s the argument of why we should change anything at all. New Year resolutions are a bit like peer pressure. When the girl skinnier than you tells you she’s going on a diet, you start thinking maybe you should too – even if it’s the last thing you want. You start pinpointing tiny aspects of your life that you could change, but don’t really want to otherwise you would have done it sooner.
Should we always be trying to change?
This year, I came up with a (huge) list of things I’d like to do or change this year, many of which have been lurking at the back of my mind for years. Because of this, it is more than unlikely that I will actually do them because – you’ve got it – I haven’t done anything about them sooner. Plus, it’s quite nice to have ‘dreams’, they’re what keeps us going, right? If I did everything I wanted to do, what would I have to look forward to?
Maybe we all need that list of things that we will do ‘one day’ but probably will never do to keep our ambitions alive and the fire in our bellies. Then again, maybe I’m wrong. I hold utmost respect for those who make a resolution and stick to it. I have even more respect for those who work hard for their goals throughout the year, not just in January when it’s deemed necessary.
I’ll be starting this year smug because I’ve figured out the New Year scam. And now you can too! How’s that for a late Christmas present?
Travel resolutions
Who doesn’t want to travel more?
I’ve seen a lot of posts about New Year travel resolutions which I think are different to the generic diet/quit smoking/run more ones because they are not changing anything – it is simply a form of planning. It is not changing anything about your appearance, your actions, or your attitude (although these might happen along the way as a secondary aspect). You’re primarily not changing anything about YOU, but it may happen along the way like everything else that happens in life.
So, here’s to 2013, where I will unsuccessfully plan to change everything about myself even though I don’t really want to. Care to join?
On a more serious note – I would love to hear from you whether you agree or completely disagree with my unasked for rant! Have you made any resolutions? More importantly, will you be sticking to them?
About the author: Lizzie is a full time marketing assistant and part-time travel blogger promoting the ways to get the most out of grab-it-when-you-can travel. She spends her time creatively thinking of ways to plan trips around her job and advocating the idea that you don’t have to be ‘homeless’ to enjoy the perks of frequent travel. Aside from this, Lizzie likes questioning why people travel and the psychology behind it, watching crap American TV programmes, and drinking too much tea (cider). You can find out more about Lizzie here (go on – I know you want to see what’s behind the melon…)
I never make new year resolutions. I don’t see why it should be any different to any other time of year. If you can identify ways to make your life better, you should just do it, no matter what the calendar says!
I completely agree! There’s no time like the present 😀
I found this post really interesting. I think for me, New Year’s an exciting time when I set myself goals for the year to come and decide what I want to focus on throughout that time. I agree that the January-only change idea is pretty useless one, and I don’t think I’d be motivated to make lifestyle changes just because it’s a new calendar year…
But there’s definitely a positive spin to it, and I think it’s good to take a little time out of your day for self-reflection at this time if year.
http://www.takeontheroad.com
Of course! The start of a New Year is a great time for many to look back on the past year and reflect – I completely agree. The fresh start is exciting for a lot of people who see it as a chance to change something but, in my experience, the excitement wears off during January and the old habits are back! Thank you for stopping by and commenting 🙂
I totally agree! I’ve tried making new year resolutions before and very rarely, if ever, stick to them! I turned 40 last year… wait, no, the year before last (ouch!), and made a list of ’40 things to do in my 40th year’, so I covered a lot of stuff I wanted to do then… although didn’t do 40. I did find it a bit of a pressure though (yeah, I know, only myself to blame). Much better to just get on and do it when you get an idea I reckon! 🙂
Hi Caroline! Great idea deciding on 40 things to do – that would certainly motivate me! You’re right though, a lot of people put too much pressure on themselves to change or do things differently without reflecting on what they have done or the things that they are actually happy with 🙂 We focus on the negatives far too often for my liking (I’m guilty of this too!)
oops, sorry, that last post was me!
I hate the idea of New Years resolutions- it doesn’t stop me from making them – but I hate them! I prefer to let change happen naturally and live life the way I want to rather than how the post-Christmas adverts tell me to! Love this post! xx
I always have a few ideas about things I want to do differently vaguely floating around in the back of my mind, but they are the same things ever year – things that I haven’t changed before! Haha the post-Christmas adverts have reached a ridiculous level but I agree with you, change should happen naturally. It should not be forced! Thanks so much for your comment Scarlett 🙂