COLUMN: Don’t Mind the Mess – New year, same me

New year’s resolutions – the annual exercise in self-delusion where we convince ourselves that next year will be different. This time, we will become paragons of virtue, fitness gurus, and financial wizards all rolled into one. We swear off carbs, pledge to spend less, and promise to call our loved ones every week. But let’s be honest, by mid-January, we’re back to our old habits, clutching a doughnut in one hand, our Amazon Prime account in the other, and groaning about the text we just got from a family member.

New Year’s resolutions are where good intentions go to die.

Resolutions are a time-honoured tradition. We set ourselves up with impossible goals and then act surprised when we fail to meet them. It’s like promising to climb Mount Everest when you can barely manage the stairs to your apartment. Sure, you bought the gear and watched a documentary about it, but when it comes to actually doing it, Netflix and a cozy blanket sound way more appealing.

Every year, I make the same resolution: to get fit. And every year, I genuinely believe that this time will be different. For the first week, I’m unstoppable. I’m like a fitness machine, all determination and sweat. By week two, however, my gym shoes are gathering dust, and I’m conveniently forgetting my login details for the fitness app. It’s almost as if my brain is trying to sabotage me.

Then there’s the resolution to eat healthier, and the noble intention to replace chocolate with green smoothies. The problem is, compared to Hershey products, green smoothies look like swamp water. For the first few days, I valiantly munch on salads. But then I remember that life is short, and pizza exists. Before I know it, I’m back to my wicked ways, vowing to try again next year.

And let’s not forget the classic resolution to save money. We start January with a strict budget, meticulously tracking every penny. But then there’s a sale, or a new gadget, or a really convincing email from our favorite store. Suddenly, the budget is out the window, and we’re left wondering where it all went wrong.

The real problem with new year’s resolutions is that they’re often based on the idea of completely overhauling our lives, and our personalities, in a single stroke. We aim for perfection, forgetting that real change happens in increments. It’s the small, sustainable habits that make a difference, not the grand gestures we abandon after a few weeks.

But here’s the thing: just because new year’s resolutions often fail doesn’t mean we should give up on self-improvement altogether. Maybe the key is to set more realistic goals and be kinder to ourselves when we inevitably slip up. Instead of “I will go to the gym every day,” how about “I will move my body more and find activities I enjoy”? Instead of “I will save a million dollars,” how about “I will check my account balance before I go crazy during Boxing Day sales”.

At the end of the day, the true meaning of the new year isn’t about becoming a whole new person. It’s about appreciating the journey we’re on, celebrating our progress, and being compassionate with ourselves when we stumble.

The new year is also about looking around and appreciating some of the things we did achieve that had nothing to do with a scale or a credit rating, and the people who are still with us, and still love us, in spite of our lofty goals.