It’s January of the new year, the blank slate that provides the perfect opportunity to start anew and make resolutions that will guide you into the coming months. But has this tradition held up amongst high schoolers?
Many have turned away from the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions because they consider the transition from one year to the next a numerical change and nothing more. So, devising resolutions simply because it is a new year and everyone else is setting new goals can seem arbitrary. “I think that some people will just do it to do it,” sophomore Luke Matchinsky said. Instead of procrastinating the implementation of a new habit or routine till Jan. 1, it can be more productive to make that change in the present moment. “If I want to change something in my life, I’ll do it [right away],” Matchinsky said. A more productive way of implementing change is to plan resolutions around more meaningful transitions during the year. “With [academic resolutions], I’ll do it at the end of a semester,” Matchinsky said.
Others have trouble staying motivated during Minnesota’s dark and gloomy winters, which aren’t always the ideal backdrop for those hoping to set new goals or form new habits. Shorter days and lack of sun lead some to feel unmotivated, making it hard to stick with the resolutions they planned during the glimmer of New Year’s Eve. “Staying indoors and cold weather is just not motivating at all,” sophomore Phoebe Auerbach said. One of the most common resolutions is to start exercising more consistently, but the winter months make it extremely hard to stay active without being confined to the gym. “I always say I want to work out more and go for runs, but then it’s cold or snowy,” freshman Isla Murphy said.
Yet, many continue to embrace the optimistic atmosphere of the new year, and use this as motivation for their resolutions. EHS junior Eloise Molepske hopes to dedicate more time in 2024 to volunteering for her favorite non-profit, GiGi’s Playhouse, and the start of a new year is the perfect time to make this change. “[Resolutions] can be motivational and it’s helpful to have a specific time like New Year’s to start them. [Volunteering is] something that I find really fun and I really like helping others and making connections,” Molepske said.
In addition to the typical resolutions of working out and keeping up with school, EHS sophomore Phoebe Auerbach has created an unconventional, yet equally meaningful New Year’s resolution for herself. She has decided to focus on spending time with loved ones and staying present during the coming year. “[My resolution is] just to make memories with friends and family. We’re [still in] high school and still living at home, and so it’s super important the next few years, to just live life. Everything counts,” Auerbach said.
This piece was originally published in Zephyrus’ print edition on January 25, 2024.
