For as long as I can remember, every December, I dread the inevitable questions surrounding New Year’s resolutions; what they’re going to be, how long I’ll stick to them and whether I achieved mine this year just gone. This has only been exacerbated in recent years, as social media goes into a frenzy over ‘New year, new me’ content – it can feel as though everywhere you turn, there is someone more driven, more ambitious and more successful than you. This isn’t to say there is anything wrong with a New Year’s resolution; they can be great at helping you implement new habits and hobbies into your life, especially ones you’ve been wanting to try for a while. But I’m here to tell you why you don’t need to totally reinvent your life this January – even if it seems like everyone else is trying to.
The pressure to radically change so many aspects of your life is often counterproductive. Big, sweeping resolutions tend to fail because they depend on having a large amount of sheer willpower, which is often difficult to rely on alone. When you inevitably miss a goal or have a ‘bad’ day, the entire resolution often gets scrapped, leading to feelings of guilt and failure; the cycle repeats, and January can become a month of dread instead of a fresh start.
Social media only adds to this; remembering that what you see online is a highlight reel of someone’s life is important. That picture of a friend perfectly meal-prepping or logging their 5am gym session is just one moment. Comparison (especially online) is the thief of joy, and in the New Year resolution frenzy, it can be a powerful tool for self-criticism.
Instead, this January, I’m aiming for a few (achievable) micro-resolutions; small changes to my everyday life that will be sustainable and non-intimidating. Whether that’s drinking a glass of water before your first coffee of the day or aiming for a handful of chapters of a book per week, the success of these habits builds confidence and makes it easier to continue to add more positive changes later.
My final advice is to give yourself grace, especially given that January is a busy exam period for most students. Remember the goal is progress, not perfection. And even if it feels as though everyone around you is chasing the ‘new me’; take a moment to focus on the ‘me’ that’s already here.