AGAINST Erin Zammitt argues for the abolishment of the New Year’s Resolution.
“2021 is the year to bin the new year’s resolution”, argues Vogue’s Brittney McNamara, and I’m inclined to agree. That’s not to knock those who happily set goals at the beginning of each year, intent on transforming their life in various ways. Sustained, positive change should always be celebrated and should never be discouraged. However, success is not the case for many who make these goals. Studies suggest that only 8% of people achieve the resolutions that they set, with the rest falling by the wayside in the days, weeks and months after Auld Lang Syne is sung.
nation of the New Year, we are swept up in the hype of setting intentions for the next twelve months, forgetting that we don’t magically become new and improved versions of ourselves when the clock strikes midnight. This pressure to succeed is internal and personal, yet it becomes external and public when we discuss our goals openly with those around us. Issues of accountability, combined with feelings of failure if we don’t stick to our goals, mean that our New Year’s Resolutions can lead us away from a healthy mindset, instead of towards one.
“There is too much pressure surrounding the idea of changing “Studies suggest that your life overnight.” onlu 8% of people Of course, there is something apachieve the resolu- pealing and indeed motivating tions that they set...” about the notion of ‘new year, There is too much pressure surrounding the idea of changing your life overnight. Without a smooth transition between the indulgence of the festive period and the rejuve-
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new me’. But this mantra is romanticised so much that the other 364 days seem to be forgotten.