January 1st is an arbitrary date, just like your birthdate or anniversary date or Tax Day or the date of this upcoming Wednesday. So, why do so many people cling to this date and feel the need to set goals that are often forgotten about within the month? To top it off, these goals are often massive in scope and/or impractical, making it even more improbable that they will be carried through.
1. Resolutions that involve a “never” or an “always” are just dumb. Just like the cardinal rule for communicating with others, it’s not generally wise to use those terms when it comes to resolution-making. You’re bound to be wrong and/or piss someone off.
Exhibit 1a) “I won’t eat one bite of fast food EVER AGAIN”. Stop making resolutions like that. I will concede that most fast good is just fatty, salt-filled, processed crap, but really let’s all calm down about those trans-fats, high glycemic index values and figuring out whatever the hell is in those processed “meats”. Indulging, in moderation, is ok. Really. Just like the word “hate”, the word “never” is a strong word, and sometimes mowing down a Junior Bacon Cheeseburger can make living life worthwhile. There’s no point to having slippery smooth, cavernous arteries if you’re just going to be a self-righteous, miserable, wretch your whole (long?) life.
Exhibit 1b) “I will go to the gym every day”. No, you won’t. You’re just setting yourself up for failure with this one. If you work outside the home, have a family, like to spend time with friends, enjoy any other hobbies or activities, or ever let yourself rest when you need to, you might have time for a number of workouts each week, but you will still not be at the gym every day. Unless maybe you intend to go daily for the sole purpose of roasting in the sauna or soaking in the hot tub.
2. Any resolution regarding the lessened intake of alcoholic beverages doesn’t make you a better person*. It just makes you a more boring one. We drinkers need drinking buddies to imbibe with, and to overall enjoy life with. Don’t be so selfish.
*Okay, exceptions can be made for those who have a little TOO much fun with the drinky drink, if you know what I mean. I believe in moderation in everything, folks, not just in regards to chomping on the trans-fats and horsemeat found in fast food.
3. Resolutions are typically vague and abstract. The easier to avoid accountability with, I suppose. The opposite problem seen in numbers 1. “I will be nicer to my asshole brother this year” or “I will complain less about the way my spouse’s farts smell” leave a lot of room for interpretation. Chances are this isn’t even a real goal, you’re just regurgitating a list of random things your mother told you, in her passive aggressive way, that you should change about yourself.
4. If you really wanted to change something about yourself, you’d have started already. Even if it’s just starting to formulate a plan for improvement. People make resolutions all the time – they work to lower their blood sugar, to increase their muscle mass, to become better spouses, parents, people. If you’re not already making your own resolutions, and tweaking them on more regular basis than once per year, you’re doing life wrong.
So, how about it? Agree with me, or do you have a whole list of resolutions just waiting for you around the corner?
A Morning Grouch 
I do agree, especially with your last point. I got back into exercising in June of 2012. I wasn’t gonna wait until January!
I do, however, feel like a new year is a clean slate and a good opportunity to forgive myself for whatever I feel like I dropped the ball on in the previous year, and set off to do better.
Any excuse to give yourself some needed forgiveness I can get on board with….whether it be in june or january!
Agreed. I’ve never been a New Year’s resolutioner. Each day brings another chance for resolution.
That’s all true! It’s so stupid to set as many resolutions like “I will go to the gym everyday”. Instead of saying like that we all should grab life in our hands, keep smile and try to live every day like it was the last!
Amen sister! Ill always drink with you. As long as you have internet, you’ll never drink alone!
I love that about the internet!!
I made ONE NY resolution many years ago, and it is one that I have kept – “I am not going to make NY resolutions”. 🙂
that’s one i could live with! i must have made the same one, subconsciously, at some point.
love your post! I’m reblogging it 🙂
Thank you!
I am also rebloggin it! AWESOME!
wow, thanks!
Reblogged this on shreyasoulkitchen and commented:
my sentiments echoed! happy guilt free new years!
🙂 thanks! to you as well.
although I just posted about New Years resolutions, my favorite one is 1b. funny post and (have to admit) true.
so many people do it!
I agree with you on this. I wrote something similar about two years back….
Maybe I will go dig it out from the archives…
HAHA. Oh wow. Are we on the same page today, or what?? 🙂
I’m with you on all points, sister. Happy New Year to you, although the only wishes that really matter are these: GO GREEN!
I absolutely agree that if not measurable and attainable, resolutions are silly. BUT I have made lifestyle changes that started with resolutions. Also by telling a lot of people that mine was to run a marathon last year I felt accountability to complete the goal.
Well good for you, for following through…and on such a big goal! It does help to say things out loud to others.
Reblogged this on Dear Tigy… and commented:
Yeah, that’s all truth! Instead of doing such resolutions we should start living the best we can!
let’s believe it’s gonna be one of the best years in our whole live! Best wishes guys! 🙂
to you, as well!
Reblogged this on Couture Pixie's Blog and commented:
😀 😛
thanks!
OMG you are wise, brilliant and yes!!! I don’t make NY resolutions, at all. I know the crap I suck at, and want to fix. I know what I need to fix, and a date doesn’t help!!! LOVE LOVE this, but of course, will still say Happy NY my friend! And I’ll say that I hope 2014 is amazing to you. I also won’t say “I never…” because DUH. and you rock!!!
yea, i know what i suck at too! haha. that’s for sure. thanks for all the kind words.
How easily we are prepared to lie to ourselves and make promises we know are false, yet have the audacity to be upset when someone lies to us. Agreed 100%, I love reading your blog, it speaks to me in a thousand ways:) Thanks for following me etc. Great Blog xx
http://dietrying999.wordpress.com/2013/12/20/2014-bucket-list-vs-resolutions/
so true about us lying to ourselves!
Reblogged this on reverse inverted and commented:
Yeah, this is pretty awesome and accurate.
thank you!
I like NY resolutions. For me, it’s just a reminder at the beginning of the year, of all the possibilities that a new year holds. The ones I write are suitably vague and I’m forgiving of myself if I do not achieve them. It’s just a fun thing I do to think about my priorities. I say, do resolutions if you wish and blow it off if they’re not for you. To each her/his own! 🙂
In other news, I’ve just discovered your blog via asassyredhead and I like your style, lady. 🙂
Love Sassy! She’s fab. Any special resolutions you made this year? Thanks for stopping by!
She is fab. 🙂 These are my resolutions:
http://www.metzroth.com/katie/?p=6762
Thank you!
This is too fucking funny and so completely true. I love it!
Thx for reading!!