Op-Ed: New Year, New Disappointments
As we leap into 2024, the majority of Charlotte Catholic students make New Year’s resolutions. However, the number of students who follow through with their resolutions dwindles. Some view the New Year as a chance to be a “new me” and have a fresh set of goals. The truth is that these people are just delusional and have unrealistic expectations. If you have not started towards achieving these goals, there's a slim chance you will start now.
At CCHS, New Year’s resolutions vary in difficulty and importance. Some resolutions focus on health, while others focus on self-improvement. Senior Max Tebben’s resolution is to eat healthier and cut down on fast food. Unfortunately, the next week he ate two Chick-Fil-A spicy chicken sandwiches, medium fries, and a strawberry milkshake; at Mr. Tokyo’s all-you-can-eat sushi devoured two rolls of sushi, one hibachi chicken, two crab rangoon orders, and sweet tea.
Senior Juliana Morales set her mind to running at least one mile every day. However, by January 15th she stopped running consistently throughout the week.
Senior Mac Burley’s goal was to not buy anything off of TikTok Shop. As of January 20th, this was a failure because he ordered numerous TikTok Shop packages. These orders consisted of freeze-dried candy, room decor, and jewelry.
Senior Lizzie Dalton said, “I believe New Year’s resolutions are fake based on my past failures.”
Some people will create habits of their resolutions, but the majority will fail. The Fisher College of Business published an article on New Year’s Resolutions based on U.S. statistics. It stated that 23% of people quit by the first week and 43% failed their resolutions by the end of January. Also, it concluded only 9% of people will make their resolutions a lifelong habit.
This is why I continue to believe resolutions promote a cycle of procrastination where the failed ones are pushed to the next year. Psychologists claim the failure rate is high because people think too big and lack motivation. Millions of people make New Year “commitments” without being prepared to make changes and accept challenges.
New Year's resolutions can be a nuisance. The “start going to the gym” resolution annoys me the most. Every year on January 1, people flood gyms. Some endanger themselves and others—through their inept use of the equipment, sweat profusely, and interrupt others' workouts. By mid-January gyms are abandoned. This proves how people “stick” to these new-found goals.
So, as the new year begins I pray these resolutions are put to rest. Self-improvement is a year-long, everlasting goal.
