New Year’s resolutions are infamous for a reason. Of course one has every intention of keeping them, which is why one bothers to string up a list of must-dos in the first place but resolutions, particularly made for the New Year, seem doomed the moment we put it down on our blog or boldly declare them to whoever is willing to listen and learn, maybe. Thus for 2016, The Week suggests you get a head start and break your regular resolutions on the very first day of January itself because we have a theory. Perhaps it’s not that we are aiming too high, perhaps we are making the wrong resolutions. So here are some promises you might want to keep but should definitely ditch. However, don’t fret for we’ll give you better options instead of generalized resolutions.
Break: I will lose weight.
This is one vow that everybody can guarantee will creep into the resolution list every single year. But let’s get real: there isn’t always time for exercising and diets are only good for as long as you don’t actually come face to face with a molten hot chocolate fudge brownie. As if battling lack of time and resisting temptation weren’t enough, bringing this resolution to your list only increases the pressure. In many cases, these resolutions aren’t even practical. Setting yourself on a mission to lose 15kgs in a month already has a high probability of failing thus discouraging you to follow through on your fitness plan all together.
Make: I will become healthier.
Rhonda Byrne, author of The Secret, actually cites various examples that prove if you solely focus on losing weight, a condition of being overweight is created from thinking “fat thoughts.” Her solution? Let go of these limiting thoughts. The first thing you have to do is come to terms with your weight and body the way it is and then re-shift your focus on becoming healthier instead. Find out the ideal weight for your height and age and adopt healthier lifestyle choices. Begin small, for instance by adding a vegetable to your meal everyday or going for a walk whenever possible. Slowly you can build on these healthy habits. Eventually at the end of 2016, it shall lead to some significant weight loss and without all the extra pressure.
Break: I will find the one
We suggest you break this resolution right away because you have already found The One. It’s you. You are The One and what you should be doing is celebrating being on your own. But if this (amazing) reason still does not satisfy you and you want to mingle then once again, let’s look at the logistics. It’s an impossibly unrealistic expectation for any year. It is way too much pressure. Plus, we have over the years, had enough reasons to believe that when you are looking for something, you’ll never find it; it’s when you are not looking for something that it’ll be in abundance. As that is as true for love as it is for hair grips.
Make: I will celebrate being on my own
Not all of us have been assigned a McDreamy or McSteamy in this lifetime. Even if you’re still idealistic enough to believe that’s not true, you must at least know that it isn’t going to be as easy as they make it look on TV. So in true bachelor/bachelorette spirit we say: make the most of the single status and celebrate not being tied down. In fact here is a better idea, why not discover yourself, make travel plans, set big goals and let The One find you.
Break: I will do more.
Never ever make this resolution because it’s doomed to fail right from the word go. Many people vow to do more in the New Year – more traveling, more reading, more meeting friends and family, more money, basically more anything. And while these are great goals there’s only so much you can do given the fact that you already do quite a bit. You are not going to stick with this resolution because sooner or later you’ll be exhausted and slide back to your old life. Let’s face it, we’re not Superman or Wonder Woman, as much as we would like to believe otherwise.
Make: I will learn to prioritize.
We can never give enough time to our friends or family because we’re bogged down by work and can’t make it to that dinner event. Excuses are aplenty but if you learn to prioritize then you can definitely manage to do more with your days. What if you skipped one meeting and met a friend instead? Or what if you didn’t watch TV and read that book you have been meaning to read? It’s all about what is important to you. You just have to make up your mind and live your life accordingly. This way, we guarantee, you’ll feel more accomplished than you did in 2015.
Break: I will stop spending all my time on Facebook
Perhaps you stay awake because you are not done seeing how your Australia based friend’s sister’s brother spent his weekend. You are also in a hurry to declare your relationship status, and you don’t see the sense in waiting any longer than 30 minutes after a party or a function to upload pictures of you and your peeps. Be it on vacation, or from a hospital bed you find a way to update your status. However, now you probably sense a hint of addiction which is why you are tempted to make this resolution. It’s a noble thought but after hitting that deactivate button one often tends to realize, it’s easier said than done.
Make: I will widen my horizons
Instead of opting to go cold turkey (which almost never works), why not start by limiting your time on the social networking site? It will help if you have a busy schedule, so much so that you don’t have time to linger on and stalk every other interesting (read: hot) person you come across. Sign yourself up for different workshops, attend exhibits, seminars, indulge your interests and broaden your horizon. There are plenty of ways you can keep yourself fascinated in the real world too.
Break: I will quit smoking.
And many claim it is totally feasible. “I had quit smoking for 9 whole months,” they boast as they reach for the lighter because that’s the truth. It may be easy to give up smoking but eventually, for most, all it takes is that one moment of weakness and you are back – a member of the smoker’s club all over again. Most smokers are both physically and psychologically addicted to cigarettes. As a result, when they give up smoking, their bodies experience withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, insomnia, and depression, which can last up to three months, believe health experts.
Make: I will cut down on cigarettes.
As with most of resolutions, a more realistic approach can do wonders here as well. Maybe you could cut down on the number of cigarettes you have each day. Since you are still giving yourself the luxury to smoke, be strict with the cutbacks. Perhaps you can even make several rooms in your house no smoking zones and allocate a particular room or the rooftop for smoking. Family members can certainly pitch in and support here. If you are not allowed to smoke in the house and say you have to go outside, especially in this freezing winter months, the prospect of another smoke could already be less tempting.
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