Every year it's the same routine: the countdown begins and the ball drops to symbolize the start of the New Year, while people immediately begin a losing battle to keep their New Year's resolutions.
This year, however, New Year's resolutions don't have to become empty promises for a better life. According to government polls provided by the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC), people are more likely to stick to resolutions if they make only one or two small, attainable goals.
Polls show that 63 percent of Americans keep their New Year's resolutions after two months when they are specific, short-term goals instead of vague, unrealistic resolutions.
1) Losing Weight
Success in keeping a New Year's resolution like losing weight means making the goal easier to attain. Students should set specific goals. Instead of setting the vague goal of losing weight, people can resolve to fit into a certain clothing size or into a certain item by a specific date.
"I think that losing weight is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions," said Jill Oustin, a freshman history major. "I didn't make a New Year's resolution this year because I never stick to them."
The FCIC recommends doing things everyday to help keep focus on achieving a New Year's resolutions. When trying to lose weight, if students take the bus or subway to work or school the FCIC suggests getting off a stop earlier and walking. By making little efforts to lose weight instead of dramatically overhauling your entire life, keeping a resolution becomes a little easier.
2) Excel in work or school
As the second most popular New Year's resolution, succeeding in the work place or in academics are great goals for students to make. Unfortunately, as the semester progresses, these resolutions can be even easier to forget.
The FCIC suggests that people set aside time each day, even if only for an hour, to get work done or study. Making time to work towards a goal makes it easier to achieve it.
"I think that most people don't make New Year's resolutions because they don't have the motivation to stick with them," said Maan Dhanjal, a senior chemistry major. "They set unrealistic goals for themselves and so they never follow through."
Also by focusing on something specific, like one particular class or area of work, students can focus their energy on what they can improve upon the most. By being specific, the goal seems easier to attain and less overwhelming to get there.
3) Eating Right
Just like losing weight, people shouldn't completely overhaul their lives and change everything they eat. Instead, they should just give up one or two bad foods that they eat.
"Everyone makes New Year's resolutions like quitting smoking or losing weight," said Dave Scarpulla, a senior chemistry major. "Those resolutions are so overrated and they never end up happening."
According to the FCIC, it takes 21 days for the mind to adjust to a new action or way of thinking and for it to become a habit. It takes six months for that habit to become a part of your personality. By making a resolution easier to stick to and more attainable, students are more likely to stick with it past the 21-day mark.
4) Quitting smoking or drinking
The FCIC recommends that when quitting a bad habit like smoking or drinking, the goal is often more attainable if people talk about their resolutions and make their friends aware of what they're trying to do.
Students are less likely to achieve their goals of quitting a bad habit if they try to do it alone than if they do it with outside help. When trying to quit smoking or drinking, the FCIC suggests a person seek treatment programs or support groups to help them quit.
"I actually forgot to make a resolution this year, I didn't even think of it," said Andrea Morill, a senior chemical engineering major. " Whenever I did make one though in past years I never stuck with them because I always end up forgetting that I made one."
5) Saving Money or Paying off Debts
When the New Year begins, many resolve to have their bank accounts grow and maybe to reduce their debt.
The FCIC suggest opening a savings account and putting a set amount of money into it from each paycheck in order to still live comfortably but also save money for future endeavors. While students may miss the money at first, having that savings could be what bails them out when an emergency arises.
In order to pay off nagging debts, the FCIC recommends consolidating bills as much as possible. This way, students pay one low monthly payment and have a fixed interest rate. Taking control of debt and making a set plan of how they are going to pay it off can help students to efficiently make themselves debt free in the New Year.
New Year's resolutions can be a great way for students to think about the problems they have and take steps to fix the things that make them unhappy if they also take the time to keep them.
"I made a New Year's resolution this year, but I can't remember what it is," said Mark Huberfeld, a junior business major. "You really have to be self motivated when you make a New Year's resolution. Most people will make one and then put it off till the next day and then the next day. You just really have to make yourself do it and get motivated."
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
