The clock has struck midnight, and fireworks have erupted throughout the sky, hiding the darkness beneath; you are now at the brink of a new year—where, amid the dazzling display, filled with countless emotions, your mind starts creating a chart filled with multiple resolutions you will most likely abandon within the first fifteen days of January.
But don’t be disheartened, because that makes the two of us. I think it’s safe to say that humans are often victims of gaslighting themselves into believing that January 1 can turn them into whole new person. For this reason, we often save all our so-called goals for the new year. However, even though the enticing smell of fresh barbeque, the loud chanting of “Happy New Year,” and the confetti-looking fireworks may bring a ray of hope along with it, it does not magically solve all our problems and drive away our bad habits. That is one of the main reasons why New Year’s resolutions tend to fail before even hitting the one-month mark. So today, we are here to provide you with a step-by-step roadmap to making your New Year’s resolutions an absolute success.
New Year’s resolutions encompass a rich history dating back to almost 4000 years ago, originating from ancient Egypt, Babylon, China, and Rome. Primarily tied to religious practices, New Year’s resolutions back then mainly focused on promises and sacrifices for the upcoming year. However, as the wheel of time kept spinning, resolutions started shifting from religious to more secular goals, focusing on self-improvement. The modern Gregorian calendar solidifies January 1 and New Year’s Day. While resolutions have evolved over time, the fundamental desire for personal betterment remains constant, which is crucial for adapting to the ever-changing needs of society. In the post-Enlightenment era, resolutions became more and more non-religious and individualistic, reflecting the surplus and exaggeration of contemporary life. Today, people all over the world continue to make resolutions, striving and yearning for self-improvement in different aspects of their lives.
In the current fast-paced realm of corporate life, the need for New Year’s resolutions hardly ever goes unnoticed. Setting personal and professional goals at the beginning of the year provides one with a roadmap to success and personal growth. But have we ever taken a second to think about why this bears so much weight? And why, despite having so much importance, do New Year’s resolutions often tend to go so wrong so fast?
The answers to both of these questions are some tough pills to swallow. First of all, we humans tend to create this ideology in our brains that as soon as the clock strikes midnight on January 1, all our problems will be left behind, and we will magically take the shape of a better us. That is why we often hear and, in fact, say things like, “I will start going to the gym from tomorrow,” “New Year, New Me,” and even “I will start setting more personal boundaries,” as our New Year’s resolutions. However, what is saddening is that these so-called goals that we set for ourselves should be a year-round thing instead of a milestone that we hit only once a year. But the more we see these goals as resolutions rather than personal growth, the more we tend to push them back. Eventually, we lose sight of them to the point where we gaslight ourselves into thinking that we will only be able to achieve if we set the same goal for the upcoming year. Yes, it is important to set goals for ourselves at the beginning of the year in order to have a mental calendar, which usually leads to a successful year. But only setting these resolutions and not seeing them through to the end diminishes the purpose of New Year’s resolutions.
There is another aspect of why one’s New Year’s resolutions tend to go into a frenzy so quickly, and that is setting too high of an expectation for ourselves. Sure, it’s good to set strong goals for oneself, but we need to set these milestones according to our own capabilities. A person himself/herself is the only one who knows his/her true potential.
So, setting a goal that surpasses that potential by a large margin is just setting oneself up for definite failure. Let us be realistic: the promotion that took 2 years for your very capable coworker to get will most likely take you the same amount of time, maybe only a few months less if you are hard-working enough, but if one opts for getting that same promotion within 6 months, isn’t it obvious that they are bound to face disappointment in the near future? That is why it is very important, if not the primary rule of setting New Year’s resolutions, to be realistic and practical. While the enthusiasm for a new beginning is exhilarating, we must navigate the fine line between ambition and practicality. Because recognizing our limitations and setting achievable goals ensures a more gratifying journey.
Now, crafting a successful New Year’s resolution requires more than just wishful thinking. A step-by-step roadmap is crucial:
- Refining clear objectives
- Breaking them into manageable tasks
- Celebrating smaller milestones along the way
We always need to keep in mind that consistency, and not perfection, is the key to success and lasting change. Rather than trying to give the perfect presentation every time, try to learn your shortcomings through your clients’ feedback. Rather than pressuring yourself to attend every workplace gathering, start by communicating and having small interactions with your coworkers; this will help you build the confidence to become the social butterfly you have always dreamed of. Simply put, breaking down your target into smaller and manageable tasks will most likely ensure your success.
Additionally, skills like adaptability, time management, and resilience are invaluable. Learning to embrace challenges and personal shortcomings, cultivating discipline, and staying motivated can turn your hard-to-achieve aspirations into tangible achievements. Something else that you can opt to learn is trying to accept other people’s help. Accepting help from others, especially in a professional setting, can sometimes feel daunting as no one likes showcasing their shortcomings. However, we need to come to terms with the fact that one person alone cannot do it all. Teams are made so that you can share your burden with others. So, learning to accept help is something that you can add to your list of resolutions.
Author: Maliha Binte Mohsin Moumita
