Admiration but yearly resolutions not for me

It’s been one hell of a year with Brexit plans, the FIFA World Cup, yet another royal wedding and the birth of baby Louie.

But as 2018 comes to a close – and some of us say ‘good riddance!’ – our minds collectively cast to the upcoming year ahead and what we will do differently, or keep exactly the same.

I haven’t made a New Year’s resolution since I was a child and probably vowed to eat more chocolate (which I’ve certainly kept since).

But people across the world decide to make changes to their lives in every way, shape or form as the clock strikes midnight.

Others, however, think the tradition is pointless and hate to see the barrage of ‘new year, new me’ posts on social media as the big day approaches.

I must admit, I’ve always been in the latter category.

I see writers vowing to scribble lines in their notepads more and fitness-phobes willing themselves to the gym and I can’t help but think, ‘oh no, another dream that’s destined to be crushed’.

I’ve always thought most of these people will have forgotten all about their new goals in a week’s time, and instead save themselves for New Year’s Eve 2019 to start again.

You don’t become a new person overnight, and when progress isn’t immediate or when the going gets a little tough, these resolutions become abandoned and do a disservice to all the personal progress someone has made in the days running up to a new year.

This cycle only seems to perpetuate feelings of failure and inadequacy as each promise amounts to nothing, which surely sets the year off to a wholly negative start.

Seeing so many people fail to stick to their new diets and personality overhauls got me thinking – ‘why do we bother to make New Year’s resolutions if they fail so often?’

For some, it is a matter of tradition. Resolutions are something that have been a part of our culture for a very long time, and a part of history many feel should be kept alive as it makes us strive to do new things and become better people.

Another reason is the allure of starting anew and leaving the woes of the past behind. The beginning of the year offers a fresh start and a clean slate.

Even if you don’t wake up as a brand new person, it can certainly feel like a new year is filled with new possibilities.

The idea of bettering ourselves is another inspiration. Most of us have a natural tendency toward self-improvement and being the best version of ourselves we can be.

Although the New Year is a somewhat arbitrary date, it gives us a goal to prepare for the plans and to get ourselves excited for the big overhaul.

Taking all this into consideration, it really made me rethink my stance on New Year’s resolutions.

So what if I think they’re going to fail?

There’s nothing wrong with people wanting to better themselves, and I should be celebrating them rather than putting them down.

Will I be making a New Year’s resolution of my own?

Probably not, apart from writing more Talking Point columns that is.