He said
Generally, I'm not a fan of making resolutions on Jan. 1 or Dec. 31, depending on when exactly people are supposed to make these sweeping calls for reform.
I did, however, do some reading up on how these New Year's resolutions have changed over the years. Where before people made resolutions about how they hoped to help their communities or change the world, now everyone's resolutions surround the idea of personal betterment.
We're really just becoming bigger narcissists, according to our New Year's resolutions, which is in line with our need to show off more and more about ourselves online. If we're going to show everyone how great we are, we better be able to keep up with this great image by actually becoming better. That's what ringing in the new year with a pledge is for.
It's the resolutions that evolve around our own self-importance that are the most overrated. There are good reasons to lose weight or stop smoking. We all need to take care of our personal health. But that's a daily, lifestyle change.
Wouldn't resolving to be more charitable or to volunteer in the community be a better claim than looking better? Maybe you aren't particularly wealthy or are incredibly busy with work and family and your free time is limited. Perhaps you can't afford to be overly charitable every year, but maybe you'll save up a little, and in 2013 resolve to give that back to that community. Maybe it's not something you can do every year, but it's nice be able to do it sometime.
You can make personal goals on your own time, but when it comes to New Year's resolutions, I like the idea of finding something that will benefit other people too.
Our growing vanity is certainly enough to turn anyone off making a resolution, even though we can vow to do some good for others not just ourselves.
Maybe it's that vanity of the New Year's resolution is what has turned me off the perennial tradition. Maybe the practice could be worth it if we were all interested in helping one another.
It's the typical resolutions people make that are overrated. If someone makes a selfless goal to be a better citizen or community leader, I could get behind that.
She said
I think it's pretty clear that vowing to lose weight is the most overrated resolution that people make at New Year's. I'm guilty of this, many times over.
I've committed myself to going to the gym five days a week and only eating salads, and at first, it works really well. I choose to be the designated driver for my friends instead of guzzling booze. I choose to add veggies to my wraps and sandwiches, even though I'd rather not. I run on a treadmill, which is the bane of my existence.
And then February rolls around and I'm really craving M&Ms, so I give in. And then I just keep giving in. And then I'm back where I started, vowing that next year will be my year of amazing weight loss and will power.
I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who goes through this. Based on the number of lost-looking women I see at the gym these days, I'm definitely not the only one.
I've found that deciding to lose weight doesn't need to happen on Jan. 1 (duh). It happens when you're ready, when you're finally tired of buying jeans a little looser than you used to, and when you want to improve your life.
For example, when I'm running at the gym, I try not to concentrate on how much I hate running. I like to think about how this 45-minute run from Hell will make my summer soccer games more enjoyable. I honestly suck at soccer, because I'm lazy, and I hate running. But I like to imagine that I'm going to suck less next season.
I also know a girl who visualized herself a size smaller when she had to run into her ex at an upcoming wedding. That's pretty motivating.
So anyway, my point is that a lifestyle change like weight loss doesn't need the beginning of a year to start. And people seem to forget this, making it the most overrated, and I'd say most pointless resolution ever. That being said, I'd like all the resolutioners to get out of my gym so I can work out in peace. Thanks.
