by Cody Hodge

Created on: May 05, 2009

Are New Year's resolutions worth keeping? I don't really have an answer for that, other than to ask if they are worth making in the first place. The problem with the resolution isn't in the fact that people can't commit to them, but in the fact that people make them more because they are caught up in the clean slate that a new year represents. If we could have the same mindset and attitude in July as we did on January 1st, we probably would keep more of them.

People tend to make unrealistic goals, or think that just because they make the resolution, that it will come true. You can say that you want to make a resolution, but you then have to go out and achieve that goal. If you think that just because you say something is going to happen this year that it will happen, then you are going to be mistaken. You have to really work at it, and that it is what the mistake is when people make the resolution.

It is usually assumed that when the time comes to start that diet, or to start working toward that goal, that things will just happen. I have tried many times to change my diet, or drink less, or workout more. The problem is that life still gets in the way. Life isn't going to open up a huge time slot to give you time to change your attitude about life. You still have to find the time, energy, and passion to keep your goal on track to be met.

If you are able to make the changes to your lifestyle that go along with meeting a new goal, you will be able to meet that goal. The problem with a resoultion on January 1st is that it is so artiificial. If you really want to make a goal for yourself, why not start on July 13th? Most people make the resolution mostly out of guilt for eating too much, or spending too much over the holidays, instead of actually wanting to fulfill a goal.

A resolution for the new year has to be carried out throughout the whole year. You have to make good progress, and you can't assume that it will happen in a week. If you aren't sticking with your diet after the first week in January, what have you really accomplished? You won't lose the 20 pounds overnight, so you need to make sure that you can keep going all through the year. Otherwise you just talking about something, but taking no action.

A resolution for the new year can be a good thing. It can give you a goal for yourself that you can strive for all year. Don't get caught up in the hype however, and if you can't see it through, then don't make it your goal.

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