Thoughts on New Years Resolutions?

[Batya33]

Hi all and I wanted to wish all of you a happy holiday season and Happy New Year if you celebrate! I've been thinking about whether New Years resolutions are helpful and thought it might be interesting to share individual perspectives and/or how it's worked in the past -or not.  I personally am dubious about them -I made them especially as a teenager/early 20s - and they were kind of fun/interesting to think about, to make but ultimately I don't remember any being particularly helpful or long lasting. 

By contrast I've had sort of "epiphanies" and sometimes at random times (more likely when I'm exercising/working out -my mind then flows more) and "a ha" moments which have resonated a whole lot more than resolutions.

A friend mentioned to me that the small fitness center I go to likely will be a lot more crowded next week -and she's probably right!  

None of this is meant as "debate" in the least -just occurred to me -maybe unoriginally -that it might be interesting to share perspectives. And if not just scroll by and I wish you a happy and healthy 2023 nevertheless!

[Wiseman2]

The idea of wanting to turn over a new leaf and eliminate some bad habits or incorporate some good habits is a great idea, whether it's starting on new years or any other day.

[Batya33]

26 minutes ago, Wiseman2 said:

The idea of wanting to turn over a new leaf and eliminate some bad habits or incorporate some good habits is a great idea, whether it's starting on new years or any other day.

Yes I agree.  I like what I've read over the past few years that it takes - is it 30 days? -to cement a new habit (maybe more time) - because to me that injects reality into what's often hard to do in the early days of trying something new.

[Kwothe28]

Its a new age thing. "OMG New Year, new me". Its good on paper. But the one who is trying to make the change, would just make a change. They wouldnt wait New Year. Change is not easy to make and requires iron will. Those who would wait a new year to make some meaningful change, likely dont have that kind of will. For example, people quit smoking on the spot. Just throw a pack and get through it. The one that would say "Yeah, I dont smoke from New Year on" would likely not manage to do it.

55 minutes ago, Batya33 said:

A friend mentioned to me that the small fitness center I go to likely will be a lot more crowded next week -and she's probably right!  

 

That is true. I have a friend who worked at local fitness center. Influx of new customers is right after holidays. Too much stuffing with food and not many exercise. So they come after New Year to cut a few kilos that they gained.

[Batya33]

10 minutes ago, Kwothe28 said:

Its a new age thing. "OMG New Year, new me". Its good on paper. But the one who is trying to make the change, would just make a change. They wouldnt wait New Year. Change is not easy to make and requires iron will. Those who would wait a new year to make some meaningful change, likely dont have that kind of will. For example, people quit smoking on the spot. Just throw a pack and get through it. The one that would say "Yeah, I dont smoke from New Year on" would likely not manage to do it.

That is true. I have a friend who worked at local fitness center. Influx of new customers is right after holidays. Too much stuffing with food and not many exercise. So they come after New Year to cut a few kilos that they gained.

So I thought the increase was the general new years resolution about fitness not so much the holiday weight gain? Also of course many fitness centers offer deals, etc at that time of year.  I agree about motivation to make a change and "waiting."  There may be some who are more incentivized/prompted at a certain time of year to reflect and make changes.  I am not a fan of "starting January 1" because often it's tied to "well of course I'm going to want to overeat during Christmas/New Years so no point starting -but the truth is those sorts of temptations are regular and constant - including people bringing leftover boxes of candy/treats to the office after holiday festivities. 

Obviously I can see not depriving oneself at a party on Dec. 31 but I think there's a way to do a sort of soft start if it's about food or even alcohol and not do the full start Jan. 1.

[Coily]

It’s a fun idea, challenges people to reflect on themselves. But aside from a party trick it’s not usually followed through with in any meaningful way.

That said I have kept my new year’s resolution from 2006, not to make another resolution. Ha

That cynical part aside, it is fun for many people so why not?

[Kwothe28]

2 hours ago, Batya33 said:

So I thought the increase was the general new years resolution about fitness not so much the holiday weight gain?

You havent seen Slavic ways of celebrating. Here you have New Year, then Ortodox Christmas, then our New Year that is celebrated 2 weeks after New Year. In meantime almost nobody works, you spend it mostly with families and eating a copius ammount of meat, mostly pork meat. All along with stuff like olivier salad(mostly mayo in it) and such. 😁

But I think its the same for everybody. They relax a bit so after holidays they decide to get into exercise to look better.

Quote

 

According to IHRSA, 12% of all gym sign-ups happen in January, while the rest of the year accounts for an average of 8.3% of sign-ups . The surge of interest in fitness each January can be attributed to new members looking to put a stop to their rest-of-the-year-long latency.

Almost 50% of new gym members cancel their memberships by the end of January – and this number is even higher for Yoga studios, where 70% of people who join a yoga studio in January will cancel by the end of February.

 

Again, its not a bad thing on paper. But they rarely stay after and you just dont become a gym rat over night. You need dedication and most of those people dont have one other then "I need to do it after New Year".

[Batya33]

Thanks Kwok -that's so interesting!!

[greendots]

I love the idea of positive change. But let's face it, does declaring that it's a NY's resolution actually work? I joke, for example, how I'll eat healthier 'tomorrow' fully knowing that this is balderdash. If I wanted to eat better, I'd start now and be consistent about it.

 

5 hours ago, Coily said:

That said I have kept my new year’s resolution from 2006, not to make another resolution. Ha

Hehehe. That's a good one, Coily! 🤣

[mylolita]

Hey Batya!

I personally find New Year to be a period of forced reflection, whether you want too or not. The closing of something and beginning of anything at the same time is always bitter sweet. 

People want to improve, and they have that feeling of a fresh start, whole new year ahead. A bit like waking up to a new day in the morning but on steroids. 

I've never liked New Years parties. I find myself feeling unbelievably sad. Maybe it's because I have a melancholy edge sometimes. But anyway, when it comes to resolutions? If they help people, I think that's great, whatever works. For me personally, I just want to be true to myself, how I feel, what I'm doing - am I being authentic? Am I doing what I really want? All these questions, so a New Year coming up I guess is in part, pressure - pressure to be "refreshed" and off the start line on the morning of the 1st or something?! 

I just tend to say to myself, I hope this year is gonna be a good year. Let's make it a good one. Or try make it better than the last. I don't think anything specifically, I just have a big picture general feeling and I think, I wanna go towards that. 

Mentally, I have a few things I want to tick off (or hundred!) but that's all year every year!  

My hopes for the New Year are probably something like:

- Be a better mother (be more present, don't let your mind drift or wander, don't say "hold that thought darling I just want to put the washer on")
- Try to let go and go with the flow more (give up control, or try to control things less)
- Enjoy the journey of doing up the house more, instead of being ungrateful and impatient wanting everything finished and done as soon as possible
- Spend far less time online, reduce smart phone use until I can get rid of it, replace it with a proper camera and my old Nokia pay as you go!
- Embrace what I already have and stop wishing for more (what I already look like, clothes I already have, house as it is, children as they are, husband as he is, me as I am, right now)
- Be a little kinder to myself
- Just shut up and chill out a bit more - it's okay to need rest, it's OKAY TO RELAX or need or WANT to relax!
- Acknowledge anger, bad thoughts, irritation - and try to let it go. You don't always have to indulge in it in a big extravagant dramatic show. 
- And, don't take it out on your husband, okay? He's your best friend. Go easy on him.

Something like that. Private, personal, inner things I would like to work on.

Oh and as an out there practical one, make a start on writing a book!

Have a good one! I hope you enjoy New Year more than I do!

x

[mylolita]

Oh and, let's not lie, make lots of money. That's always my hope for the New Year. And health and happiness.

Health wealth and happiness, is that what they say? That bull? I'll subscribe to that! I'll have some of that - LOL!

I change my plea! Those are the resolutions!

x

[Cherylyn]

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year 2023 to @Batya33and everyone here at enotalone! 

I actually like new year's resolutions.  My most recent resolution is to become smarter in how I handle my relatives and in-laws on my side of the family and fortunately, I've kept my promise as each day, week or months pass by. 

I behave with my fairly strict diet and exercise regimen and manage diligent weight control as well. 

It's those dicey family dynamics which are challenging.  I've since learned to outsmart them at their own game.  I no longer fight.  I simply control the situation passive aggressively and no one knows what hit them!  There is an art and science to calculating shrewdness when all other "sweet" avenues failed miserably.  

My new year's resolution is to continue being unemotional regarding my steadfast and unwavering decisions because it's the only way I can control my destiny.  Whatever works!  🙂 Being 'Miss Nice' doesn't always work.    🙄  ☹️

 

[Capricorn3]

My thoughts on New Years Resolutions is to not make any New Years resolutions - because I know for a fact that I would never  stick to it, lol.  Not only that, but I honestly have no idea, nothing comes to mind at all. Zip. Zero. Nothing. Nada.Zilch.  I guess my life is pretty good enough plodding along as I am, lol.

That said, wishing you ALL a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. May 2023 be kind to you all.🎆