The end of a year and beginning of a new one is a built-in time to reflect on our lives and improve our futures. Every year in January, the same pattern of a surge in gym memberships and motivation for healthy eating occurs. This tradition has existed for a long time, and still holds relevant today. Kilbourne students share their thoughts and experiences on New Year’s resolutions.
Aside from being healthier, another common resolution is to be more organized and expand horizons, as Freshman Leah Kim shares, saying, “My resolutions for 2025 are to be as put together as possible and find new hobbies for myself.” A new year can be anything you want it to be, but the emphasis is always on improving yourself. Like Kim discussed, finding new activities you enjoy or trying to improve organization are practical ways to improve.
On the other hand, Senior Liliana Hohn shares that her resolution is to read the Bible in a year. This is a goal Hohn has been working toward for some time and is excited to conquer in the upcoming year. Similarly to Kim’s goal, this is another way people attempt to improve themselves in a new year. The new year is a great excuse to take a new step of faith or begin a journey that is intriguing but feels daunting, similarly to reading the Bible in a year. Though you can start a new adventure anytime, it is easier to start with the rest of the world on New Year’s.
However, Hohn admits, “I have failed trying not to gossip and go the gym three times a week,” speaking of past year’s resolutions. Adding on, she shares “I think New Year’s resolutions are generally too big of a lifestyle change of just immeasurable.” Hohn offers that people have the mindset of giving up once they make a small mistake and that is what keeps people from staying on track.
For Kim, she believes resolutions are so difficult to keep because “there is a lot of distractions, whether it be sports or friends or anything else. I think sometimes it’s just hard to keep my focus.”
Also in a unique set of circumstances, Kim shares that “while going into my freshman year, everything is very new and different, which makes resolutions a bit harder.” Resolutions are even more difficult to keep during times of life that are already changing enough. It seems a big factor of losing resolutions is the typical busyness of life as we know it and the lack of motivation as the initial excitement wears off.
New Year’s resolutions have been around for what seems like forever, but we all know how genuine resolutions can be. We have all seen a family member or friend give up on their resolutions within a month, or maybe we have also given up that quickly. At the beginning of the year, hopes are high, but it’s difficult to stay that way.
That being said, it is possible to keep New Year’s resolutions. For example, Hohn has completed a few old resolutions of eating more protein and going to church biweekly. To hold herself accountable again this year, she shares, “I am going to focus on the fact that this is good for me and that it is something I am capable of doing. I am going to prioritize prayer earlier in the day and not be discouraged if I miss a day.”
For Kim, she advises to have friends to share resolutions with in order to keep each other accountable and motivated to keep working at your goals.
Attitudes and accountability seem to boil down to being the key factors in keeping a successful New Year’s resolution. Now the question is: How will you improve your life this next year and how will you make sure it really happens?