The days following Christmas contain the most buzz — celebrations linger; the party continues, yet the focus adjusts to the new year. A time where loved ones are called, food is finished, and resolutions are made. From improving piano playing to renewing relationships these resolutions vary in difficulty and magnitude, yet they all beg the same eternal question: Will they be followed? Most answer yes feeling confident in their abilities to perform yet skepticism prevails.
While the number of Canadians who are making resolutions continue to increase, recent data indicates only about 9-14% of Canadians follow through on set New Years Eve resolutions. Whether this involves the improvement of a new language, a greater focus on meeting people or simplywalking more, resolutions seem to be difficult to keep.
Majority of Canadian resolutions (71%) relate to health and wellness goals, particularly ones related to maintaining physical fitness and enhancing one’s lifestyle. While these goals reflect a growing understanding of health benefits, they are often the first to be abandoned. This beckons an interesting conversation on why. One explanation is with respect to how these resolutions are framed. The use of broad terminology such as a desire to “get healthier” or “exercise more” lacks clear, measurable benchmarks, making gradual progress difficult to track and the consequently, the ability to dispose of such a goal easier to do.
Another contributing factor is a perceived expenditure of change. Individuals often feel such resolutions, despite their significance, demand substantial sacrifices of money, time, or comfort. Simply put, change is often not comfortable. In Canada, drastic changes in seasonal conditions compound this challenge severely. Seasons such as winter months and its difficult, snowy conditions allow temperatures, shorter daylight hours, and increased academic or work pressures, all of which make consistent growth all the harder to achieve. When routines are disrupted, many interpret this as a failure rather than an expected obstacle to hurdle.
Despite low success rates, resolutions are not entirely useless. For Canadians at large, even some adherence leads to a greater understanding of habits and priorities. Rather than serving as binding promises, resolutions may function better as beginning points for gradual change.
Ultimately, the pertinent question may not be whether New Year’s resolutions are followed, but whether they are set in a way that allows them to be.
Contributed Photo/Ojus Rawal
