Resolutions

New year, new you…right? More than 115 million people living in the United States made a new year’s resolution in 2024. About 75% of those gave up on their new year’s resolution within 5 months. There’s even an “official” day called “Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day.” This year, it happens to be today (January 17, 2025).  

What a way to start the year, huh? Make a profound decision about your life based on some specific date on a calendar only to abandon that decision within a couple of months. The psychological impact of feeling like you failed at something that was supposed to be transformative for you is…a slap in the face. And, at least subconsciously, sets the tone for the rest of the year.

I don’t think that’s how humans work. We’re not machines to be programmed to run a series of tasks at a specific period in a specific order. Life is unpredictable. Maybe the worst possible time for us to start a resolution is on January 1 based on our current circumstances. Why can’t we start a resolution (why do we even need to call it a resolution?) in February or March or May or November? Why can’t we start something (an exercise regimen, getting our money sorted, strengthening relationships with family and friends, hobbies, etc.) anytime we feel motivated to do it and not have the guilt associated with failing a new year’s resolution?

Maybe that’s my new year’s resolution. To resolve not to resolve on January 1 until I have the resolve to focus on what I resolve to do. What did I just say? In other words, I’m not going to be beholden to a date on a calendar to make life-altering choices (or even simple choices). I’m going to let them evolve organically. I’m going to let them take shape in the way they need to take shape. I’m going to be realistic about what I’m resolving to do…and set myself up for success. I’m going to evolve and adapt my resolutions as needed, and as I learn more about what will work best for me and my life.

There’s no question learning is an essential part of who we are and what we need as human beings. Remember growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset? But trying to force growth in a static box at a static period in time is always going to lead to disappointment – as evidenced by the number of people that abandon their resolutions before half the year has even passed.

Do we need to push ourselves to grow? Absolutely. Does it have to happen in a specific timeframe? Absolutely not. Every single day, regardless of the time of year, is an opportunity for growth, to start something new, to learn something new, to experience something new, to take a break and refresh and reflect, to start something new…again.

Life is not a fixed-point journey from A to B. It meanders, it leaps forward, it steps back, sometimes it requires a pivot or a hard turn.

If you do make a resolution this year, resolve to be ok with being human.

Until next week.

Cheers,

Andy

(All written content created the old-fashioned way.)