January 1st isn’t just the start of the new year, but also the beginning of the inevitable New Year’s resolutions. They return every year without fail, but does that mean they’ll stick? According to CBS News, studies show that New Year’s resolutions—like eating healthier and getting into shape—are bound to fail. In addition, studies tell us that out of the 41% of Americans who make resolutions, only 9% succeed (Limade). However, studies aren’t the only ones doubting people and their goals; students at Roxbury High School seem to share similar thoughts on the annual occurrence.
Junior Collin Arata believes that resolutions are overrated. “Why can’t you start them at any time? What’s the difference? It could benefit you more instead of just waiting around for New Year’s to come to start working on something,” Arata says. It is said that 7 in 10 U.S adults are likely to set goals for themselves at the start of the new year (GALLUP). So is it possible that more people need to set goals for themselves in general, not necessarily based on January first?
In addition, according to Forbes Health, 62% of people say they feel pressure to make a resolution, and 64% of women feel more pressure than men. Junior Brooke Timpano was able to express her feelings on the hassles, “I do kinda think the goals people make are overused and unrealistic, but sometimes I feel like I have to make one just because it seems like everyone else always does.” People feeling this pressure could negatively affect the goals they set and make them take drastic measures to achieve them to avoid feeling looked down upon.
Juniors Richard Rocha and Ethan Russell share a similar opinion that New Year’s resolutions are overrated, believing that the goals people set seem unrealistic and outplayed overall. Rocha started by saying, “People saying they’re going to lose weight is unreal and overused because nobody ever follows through.” Russell stayed along a similar path stating, “Going to the gym and eating healthy. No one ever pulls through so why do they keep saying it if they’re not putting in the effort?” Based on these two thoughts, it appears that many believe that 2024 should be the year of goals set within attainable reach.
Some people use the New Year to try and fix every detail about themselves. Does changing yourself completely fall within this “attainable reach”? Junior, Alex Wong doesn’t seem to think so. He voiced his opinion, “The whole ‘new year, new me’ thing people say. Like you can’t just become a new person overnight, that’s not how it works.” It appears as though time is catching up with this cliche phase and some are ready to throw out the saying completely.
Throughout the years many people, maybe you included, have set a New Year’s resolution for themselves. People could’ve completed every goal set or they might’ve not given them a second thought after New Year’s Day. So are the resolutions being made real and thought about or are they becoming overused sayings with no real intent? Everyone’s thoughts and motivations differ, but keep these opinions in mind when deciding this year if you’re going to set one too, or break the entrapped cycle.
