My love/hate relationship with the tradition. 

It makes sense. 

New year, new goals, new plans. 

It also drives me just a little bit crazy. I feel like it’s a frustrating phenomenon, and primarily psychological. 

That said, I love to talk about my New Year’s resolutions. 

But there’s always a little voice in the back of my head saying, “This is ridiculous.”

Here’s why.

Change shouldn’t be limited. 

“This is going to be my year!”

How often do you hear that? I have known people who genuinely wait to work towards goals until the new year begins. 

They wait to start exercising, eating better, meditating, saving money… they wait to change until it makes sense. Or until it feels right. 

This is a bit backward. 

Contrary to general consensus, you can make a positive life change in November, August, or any other month. You can push towards positives at any time of year. It doesn’t have to be symbolic or culturally relevant. 

You can set goals at any time. There will always be a whole year ahead of you. No matter when you set goals. 

Most people don’t stick to resolutions. 

Resolutions tend to die around mid-February. A solid first month, and then a gradual taper. 

I think that the finality of it is counterproductive. 

“Oh no, I messed up. There’s always next year!”

Why not tomorrow? Why month next week? Even next month? 

I have heard people act like they failed their resolutions, as though it was not a goal to pursue for the whole year. 

People start to assume that there’s no point in trying. 

Trying is a constant effort. 

New Year’s is a chance to reflect. 

Forward. 

This year. This month. Looking towards the future. New, new, new. 

People get so caught up looking to the future that they forget to look at the year before. What they actually did accomplish. What really didn’t go right. 

This was one of the first years that I really put time into accessing what I had done. 

Celebrating a new year is more refreshing when you can take wins out of the last ones. You can’t learn from something you don’t think about. 

The urgency to change is only positive if you pay attention to what has happened before. 

Why I still set resolutions.

All this aside, I like New Year’s Day.

There is a certain kind of hope that comes along with a new year. A new beginning. I set resolutions because it’s fun to dream. To hope. To look forward to bigger and better things.

I like goals. Big ideas. Everything substantial and meaningful starts with thinking about it first. (In my case, it’s less “thinking” and more toward obsession.) Looking to grow and advance is highly motivating.

So, here’s to the New Year. It’s going to be a good one.