New Year, New You?

It’s that time of the year again. As December draws to a close, and with that 2014, new year’s resolutions are at the forefront of many people’s minds. For most people the start of the new year is symbolic of the start of a new them; a fresh beginning, a time to make new goals and a time to forge better, healthier habits.

New plans to join the gym, lose the turkey tummy piled on over the festive season, cut back on alcohol or give up smoking once and for all, all seem so achievable on January 1^st. But, as the new year sets in, the novelty can quickly wear off.

Once the crimbo holidays are over and everything returns to normal high hopes of going for a run every morning before college or work become a challenge; eating healthier meals becomes difficult as hectic work schedules get in the way and the fear of trying something new suddenly sets in. Before you know it you’ve forgotten all about the promises you made to yourself at the beginning of the year. Life gets in the way and, once you miss one day of practicing your new year’s resolutions it can become increasingly difficult and daunting to keep the motivation up.

According to Time Magazine the most commonly broken new year’s resolutions include:

• Lose Weight and Get Fit
• Quit Smoking
• Learn Something New
• Eat Healthier and Diet
• Get Out of Debt and Save Money
• Spend More Time with Family
• Travel to New Places
• Be Less Stressed
• Volunteer
• Drink Less

Clearly keeping resolutions can be challenging so why not do the opposite? While some people view January as an opportunity to start afresh, others view it as a cash-strapped dull and dreary month. Committing yourself to giving up something you love can be hard at the best of times; never mind in January! For those struggling with low will-power, doing the opposite and making a to-do list is a positive alternative. Don’t deny yourself. Instead, plan ahead. Be proactive for 2015. Make a list of all the things you want to do (within reason!) and let 2015 be the year you do them.  

Forget the ‘New Year, New Me’ drama. Call me cynical but, just because it’s a new year, doesn’t automatically make you a ‘new you’. Whatever you decide to do, setting new resolutions or making a to-do list of all the things you want to achieve in the next year; none of them will happen unless you make them happen. A little bit of motivation can go a long way and only you can do it.

Happy New Year everyone!