As the new year approaches, I find myself once again sitting in the living room of my childhood home, with a large chocolate Santa staring at me. An annual recurrence, as I, along with many of my peers, make the pilgrimage back from adult life to my childhood bedroom for the festive season. Returning to the environment where I spent my horror teenage years becomes a period of inevitable reflection, and with the new year a mere five days away, so is the fated desire to reinvent oneself, through some form of abstinence, embracing, or experience.
I am certainly not alone in finding New Year’s Resolutions to be overwhelming, and a bit useless, with exceptionally unrealistic targets and disheartening results. My mother responded with “destined to fail” when I inquired if she had feelings toward resolutions this year. And I distinctly remember avoiding setting any for 2024. Whilst I don’t feel I missed out by not taking part last year, I feel ready to embrace the opportunity and fresh page that 2025 brings.
Past Resolutions
In 2022, my resolution was to learn to ride a bike. I obviously knew the motion of riding a bike but the fear of falling off or crashing remained, after the traumatic flip-over-the-handlebars-and-scrap-chin-off incident of 2010. However, 2023 rolled around and I had still not conquered my fear. It was instead a random Thursday in September of this year when I had an unexplainable sudden urge to get on a bike and just ride it. So, I signed up for my city’s lime bike equivalent and I am proud to declare that I am now a regular user of the mighty bike for both business (cycling from school to work) and pleasure.
The reality of change is that it stems from natural aspirations or pivotal life experiences, as opposed to annual resolutions or attempts. Within our modern society, shaped by capitalist ideals that prioritise hustle and success as the essence of any worthwhile goal means that the notion of a fun or lighthearted New Year’s resolution has been largely forgotten. Resolutions such as complimenting strangers at least once a week, learning to crochet, or trying each new fruit you encounter. Goals that soon become second nature or hobbies, adding to our personalities and passions. Resolutions that don’t restrict us or amount to a particular goal but rather encourage concepts of curiosity, growth, joy, or excitement.
New Year’s Bingo
One of my friends took part in a New Year’s Eve Bingo challenge last year, choosing nine attainable goals across different facets of life including going to a karaoke bar, completing the NHS Couch to 5K, and travelling to five countries. These goals resonated with me, as digestible little chunks to get through the year, and accomplish personal goals without the immense pressure to do them all at once, and a little reminder that a year is a long time. I have decided to adopt this idea, adding learning to play chess and swimming in the sea each month to my bingo. These are goals that challenge me yet also encourage pleasure as I am trying to overthink less and just do more. Whether you decide to choose a goal, challenge, or abstain from resolutions altogether, I wish you a happy and healthy 2025 filled with joy and opportunity.
Words by Tara Russell