When the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve and another year rolls in, the idea of a fresh start is always a tempting welcome. Every Jan. 1, students make a pact to themselves to stick to their New Year's resolutions and overcome last year's failures.
The resolutions are usually the same - to lose weight, stop smoking and to make it to every class this semester on time. And they are usually broken about two weeks after school starts.
If we know we're not going to follow through with them, then why do we continue to torture ourselves with such unattainable goals to be perfect year after year?
For some students on campus, there seems to be a growing anti-resolution trend. More and more students are doing away with perfection and making the resolution to stop making resolutions.
"I never make resolutions," said Mkamzee Mwatela, a freshman film studies major. "I'd rather live for right now than worry about what I should be doing in the future."
More often than not, New Year's resolutions leave us feeling guilt ridden for giving up and returning to old habits at the first sign of semester stress. To be successful, the best thing to do is to keep things in perspective.
For example, if the resolution is to lose the extra poundage that was packed on during the holidays, instead of trying to lose 50 pounds all at once, focus on losing five pounds at a time. And instead of trying to lose five pounds a week, focus on losing the healthier, more attainable goal of a pound a week.
Setting attainable goals is the best way to manage New Year's resolutions that seem more like impossible dreams.
"I always make really loose New Year's resolutions," said Sonya Peterangelo, a senior linguistics major. "The resolutions that I make are the same as everybody's - resolutions that will improve my life, like stop eating junk food (and) go to the gym everyday."
The best thing that students can do is try to not to set goals that are too lofty. If one's New Year's resolution is to stop smoking, it is a tall order to expect to stop smoking in two weeks.
Attack those resolutions in steps. Consistently smoke less each day. Make it to the gym once or twice a week. Eat only one snack instead of three.
Andy Cudzilo, a junior undecided major, advises that students avoid New Year's resolutions that revolve around self-improvement. Instead, focus on starting new projects that will open a new facet of their lives, like volunteering for a non-profit organization. Even if it's only one time, it is a good way to learn about oneself.
"I only make New Year's resolutions based upon how good my year was. If I had a really good year then I don't make any resolutions because I don't feel I have anything to improve on," Cudzilo said. "If I do make New Year's resolutions, normally they're the same old, same old, like losing weight."
Achieving a resolution in steps will encourage you to continue improving, guilt free.
"My New Year's resolutions are always, every year, to go to the gym and to stop smoking," said Lisa Bagley, a senior art major. "Two weeks after the new year I've forgotten I ever made the resolutions in the first place because I get too lazy. Next year though, maybe I'll make a resolution I can actually stick to."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
