New Year's Resolutions - Why Do We Still Do Them?

I'm writing whilst sweating my boobs off on the recumbent bike in my local gym. It's my first gym visit of 2020 and the gym is unsurprisingly but surprisingly busier than usual. If that makes any sense to you all. There's a hella lot of new faces to get to know in the gym today, 90% of them I'm pretty sure made it their resolution to go to the gym. Which is fine, good on them in fact. It'll be interesting to see how long it lasts for them, but I hope they do stick it out and keep to their New Year's promise.





Whilst trying to keep my legs going which are now in agony, I realise that we're halfway into January and only just starting a new decade (yep, I still find it hard to believe too). Now, what were your New Year's resolutions? See how I've used past tense there - WERE not ARE.

New Year's Resolutions - Do They Exist Anymore?


I know a few people who have given up their resolutions entirely already. Why make them if you know full well you got no chance in keeping to it?! Well, apparently today is Ditch Your New Year's Resolution's Day. Today, according to statistics, is the day that most people throw their weights out of the window, forget they've ever joined a gym or have swapped the kale for a KFC. This makes me think that New Year's resolutions are a dying trend. It seems that people can't be bothered to make them anymore. Whether it's because people can't be bothered or they feel they have nothing to strive for in the upcoming year, who knows.




This is the thing, we shouldn't feel obligated to make promises to change ourselves when we know there is that added pressure of keeping to said promise. Making New Year's resolutions is not compulsory, don't be left with feelings of failure, that's a big no-no for your mental health.



New Year's Resolutions - Do They Exist Anymore?


People have now resorted to making goals for the year ahead rather than resolutions which more often or not are broken after 2 days. A much more wise and more sensible decision.




What it is, I think we all get that kick in motivation at the start of the New Year. You're incredibly eager to do things and get things done. However, sometimes or most of the time, that little spell of motivation seems to dwindle and I usually end up going back to that procrastinating dweeb that I know all too well.




Remember when we used to see the slogan "New Year, New Me" plastered all over social media and on TV? That catchphrase used to get on my tits. It is deemed as a laughable phrase in my generation now. Change can happen at any given time in the year. It doesn't have to happen on January 1st. It could happen on the 6th April at 12:02pm. You don't need to wait a full calendar year until Big Ben chimes the New Year in to make a change.



New Year's Resolutions - Do They Exist Anymore?


Me? I have made a goal to travel more this year. Obviously not all over the world, I haven't got the money to go to places like Santorini or Rome. It may not seem like an exciting goal to some, but it's a massive goal for me. I want to explore more of what the UK has to offer. I may not travel thousands of miles, but it's the experiences that count for me.




If you've made New Year's resolutions and are still keeping to them mid January, good on ya! If you're not and you've, well, fallen off the wagon, don't be so hard on yourself. Embrace all that you are and don't be pressurised because Susan in the office has kept to her resolution of climbing mountains or has cut out eating Mars bars in her diet.


New Year's Resolutions - Do They Exist Anymore?




Have you made New Year's resolutions this year? If you have, have you stuck to it/them?!
20 comments
  1. I hate the term resolution, I feel like it makes me feel guilty if I haven't kept to them by the end of the year. I prefer to have goals, so the pressure is off a little! I've made a couple, but also allowing myself to add more as the year goes on, or change them. Nothing has to be set in stone on January 1st!

    Ellyn x | Life Of A Beauty Nerd

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    1. I hate the term resolution too Ellyn! I prefer to make myself goals, they're easier to strive for and the word 'goals' sounds nicer! x

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  2. This year is the first year when I have New Year's resolution! So far, I'm still trying to stick to it and committed to keeping it for all year. My key point is consistency and commitment. Matt D'avella's YouTube video helps me to keep my motivation up. If you are curious about my resolution, you can check it at "disis.home.blog". It's my first post and also part of New Year's resolution.

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    1. Well done you! It takes real commitment to stick to your New Year's resolution!

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  3. I'm trying desperately hard not to be too hard on myself when I don't do a workout or I end up pouring myself a gin when I've said I'm not going to drink during during the week! I'm starting to look at resolutions more as goals now and setting myself little targets which definitely seems to be going better! Xx

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    1. Never be too hard on yourself Amy! Goals are better to strive for than resolutions I think! xx

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  4. I don’t make resolutions, they seem like they are meant to be broken for some reason

    I prefer to make goals or a focus for the year x

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    1. Yeah I completely agree lovely! Resolutions are more often than or not broken! A focus for the year is a great idea! x

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  5. I don't have resolutions, I have more Goals as they are more achievable then resolutions.

    Nic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes

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    1. I think the same, goals are more achievable than resolutions!

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  6. Change should come from the heart :)

    https://economistmedia.blogspot.com/2020/01/should-you-be-looking-to-buy-shares.html

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  7. I have several goals this year. I personally believe in goals over resolutions.

    S .x https://samsramblings91.blogspot.com/2019/12/swipe-right-to-make-friends.html

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    1. Goals are so much better than resolutions!

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  8. I gave up on resolutions a few years ago and switched to setting achievable goals instead. I feel like setting goals is so much more realistic and is something that you can keep track of easier as well x

    https://www.femaleoriginal.com

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    1. That's the best way to go about it Faye. Setting goals is so much better for a positive mindset! x

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  9. I've never made resolutions and I'm a big believer in acting if you want to make some changes, regardless of the time of year. A few of my friends decided to go on a 'group diet' this new year and I found out yesterday that they're all still going strong (not gonna lie, I was shocked). I haven't seen many new faces in my gym this month which was also fairly shocking x

    Sophie
    www.glowsteady.co.uk

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    1. Absolutely Sophie! Changes don't have to be made at New Year, but they can be done all year round! I wouldn't last in a group diet for very long, I'd give in after a day or so! x

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  10. I've never been able to stick to resolutions, I've never seen the point of pretending that I want to give up chocolate and start eating kale just because its a new year! I've started setting myselg goals for the year instead, much more achievable and rewarding at the end of the year!

    Hannah | www.writtenbyhan.com

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    1. Exactly Hannah! What's the point in setting ourselves a resolution then giving in after a day or two?! Goals are so much more achievable than resolutions x

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