The fallacy of New Year’s resolution

As 2018 set afoot I can’t help but notice one of the practices we as Filipinos are accustomed of and that is the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions. We have so much enthusiasm in changing things in our life as the year starts; from new lifestyles, new hobbies, change in weight, saving up money and whatnot. We always connote the beginning of the year to the establishment of our new self.

A few years back, I myself was guilty of practicing New Year’s resolutions. Influenced by the power of the mainstreams and popularity it has to the majority, I remembered myself being at my room and listing down my resolutions for the upcoming year. One of the few things I have written is the infamous ‘losing weight’ resolution. It was just like yesterday when I have scratch out a complete weekly workout and diet schedule that I aimed to do as the New Year starts. It was always easy at first. The first few days after all the celebration brings so much vigor to start my OPLAN ‘lose weight’, I was passionate on my morning runs and supervised meals. Then the next few months subsided that drive resulting for me to lax again and live as how I live my life the year before and sooner than the end of midyear I totally forget about it and decide to start again the following year. Soon, I have noticed that I didn’t achieve anything that I have written down and just became the old self that I am.

Thinking that my failure was due to my impatience and laziness, I decided that resolutions are not just for me, well that is until a friend of mine proves me otherwise. An old friend once ask me what is my secret of being a consistent reader that even if I have so much work to do and films to watch I always find a way to read and finish at least a single book in a month. And I honestly tell him that it was like taking a bath daily or drinking coffee, it always should come naturally. I told him that I was not always a book worm and would always prefer to watch anime than read books (especially non-fictional ones) but I establish a long term goal which was to finish 10 books in a year then without realizing it I finished 10 more and more and more. He asked me if there are shortcuts to enjoy books and I truthfully answered that this is not a game he can cheat on (my exact words were “hindi to DOTA, boi”).

I then realized that my New Year’s resolution fail was not due to me but to the practice itself. Resolutions should be treated as long term goals and not wishes that can be attained in few weeks or months. Change in self should be done daily and consistently and not just because the year will start anew. If wanting to save more money learn how to save daily, even it if is only 10 pesos; in a year time your savings will sum up to 3650 (if it’s not leap year) which is based from experience is much better than saving 50 pesos today 100 pesos the next day and spending 200 pesos for the third. And if wishing to lose some weight then live a healthier but enjoyable life. Never force something that is impossible to achieve in a short period of time. In this world full of instants be reminded that patience is still a virtue and what was diligently sought will be appreciated more.

#newyear #resolution