The Difficulties of Resolutions

By Nick Allison

At the beginning of the year, people will set resolutions to hopefully improve themselves by the end of the year. When it comes to resolutions, the goals people can set for themselves can range from losing weight to learning a fun skill. Resolutions usually vary depending on the person, and what they are hoping to achieve throughout the year. 

BGHS Sophomore Cyrus Swafford states,” I think [resolutions] are a great point for people to improve their life and how they want to make decisions for the next year.”

Some resolutions are more common than others. According to YouGov.com, the most common resolutions are saving more money, being happy, and exercising more. 

In fact, another BGHS sophomore, Caroline Vaughn, stated, ”I do have resolutions, such as getting better grades and improving in sports.” 

Cyrus states, ”I really wanna get my license by the time I'm able to, like in four months I want to be able to drive anywhere I want.”

Although beneficial, many people can find it difficult to complete their resolutions, and others simply give up weeks or even days into it. Perhaps due to lack of motivation or self confidence, and other variables people fail to consider when coming up with their goals. 

Caroline mentions, “I have given up on a goal but then I modify it to determine what I can do with it.” According to the article, “Psychology Tips for New Year's Resolutions,” by Michelle Konstantinovsky, roughly 64 percent of people quit their New Year resolutions within a month. However, the same article explains that having a more positive and open mindset can help people achieve their goals, such as appreciating the fact that they are trying. In other cases, however, it could just be unexpected circumstances that impair people's ability to complete their goals. 

Cyrus expresses this by saying, “I know there's gonna be about six curveballs, hell there's already been one but you know, it is what it is.”

Some people will also try to work on their behavior instead of saving money or exercising. An example of this is expressed by BGHS sophomore Cayden Dunn. He states, ”I’ve set myself some resolutions, like to get less mad at people. I’ve been told I can be aggressive sometimes, just a little not too much, and to be less ignorant, I've been told I can be cocky.” Cayden used to set many more goals in the past, however, he stated they were more long term. “I just figured, why try to waste my time trying to figure something 20 years into the future.”

Although most would agree that resolutions are a good thing to have, others would say otherwise. 

BGHS junior Laney Cleary states, “I think they’re dumb and most people don’t actually pay attention to them or even care about them, it’s just a tradition people seem to do at this point and it doesn't even seem to matter.” Laney continues, “typically I don’t make resolutions because I don’t want to get my hopes up when I try to do something and fail.”

Similarly, Cyrus mentions that resolutions are a little stupid and Cayden says, ”I think they can be good in some instances but a lot of people use them to lie to themselves about being a better person.”

New Year's resolutions may not be for everyone and most may take it with a grain of salt. However, it provides people with the chance to grow and make progress in their lives.