Whenever the end of December rolls around, I, like many others, feel compelled to write down all of the ways I want to improve myself in the next year. This New Year, however, I wanted to start a different tradition. Here’s why I vowed to stop making a list of New Year’s resolutions and instead write down all the New Year’s problems I want to cause in the next calendar year.
Throughout the last New Year’s celebrations, my most repeated resolutions were to work out twice a week, get eight hours of sleep each night, and eat at least one vegetable every day. However, after years of never being able to keep any of these up, I’ve opted to go in the opposite direction so I can actually accomplish everything I’ve set out to do. That’s why my resolutions for this year are: eat at least one pint of ice cream every night, ruin my sleep schedule beyond repair, and get addicted to vaping. I’m already making really great progress, and it’s not even 2024 yet!
Unfortunately, whenever I’ve told the people close to me about my big plans for the upcoming year, I’ve been met with confusion and deep worry for my personal well-being.
When I listed out my New Year’s goals for one of my best friends, Helena, whose New Year’s resolution was to go on more first dates, she asked me why all of my resolutions were “so self-destructive,” but when I pointed out that going on a lot of first dates will also probably wear her down mentally and emotionally, she wasn’t very receptive to hearing that at all. To each their own, I guess!
Within the toxic hustle culture we live in, so much attention is placed on self-improvement, and, frankly, it’s overrated. Anyone can improve themselves if they really want to, but not everyone has what it takes to destroy whatever progress they’ve made and descend into a downward spiral of their own vices. That’s the far more impressive task to complete in just a year, and although it can be difficult, I’ve learned that it’s very possible to do!
Setting strong goals for yourself is essential in accomplishing your dreams, but it’s also deeply disappointing when you don’t reach those goals. So, why not just guarantee yourself an achievement by just listing out everything you want to do anyway, even though those things are all really bad for you? A win is a win at the end of the day. Happy New Year!
