It’s a new year, are resolutions still relevant?

On Wednesday, Ugandans like the rest of the world welcomed the new year. Many choose to make this crossover in church, while others had fun at a concert, a bar or home.

But there is more to that when it comes to the new year; beyond the calendar change or the countdown on December 31, the first day of January is one where people usually make resolutions.

There was a time such resolutions were the talk on the first day of the year; people talked about losing weight, working harder, investing or even getting married.

Much as many of these resolutions have always been easy to state, especially in the heat of the moment, making them a reality is always an uphill task.

By February, the new year has simply become a pile of new days - day and night, just like old times. And in the same way, people find ways of backsliding into their old selves.

Not even the slogan New Year New Me helps, things have been so bad that in the long run, many have resorted not to setting resolutions at all.

According to a US News and World Report published on Psychology Today in 2018, it is said at least 80 per cent of New Year’s resolutions fail by February.

Why resolutions fail?
The research shows that most people fail with resolutions because they are not clear or even defined: “You may need to consider clarifying your goals prior to setting them. Uncertainty about your goals creates room for indifference, confusion, and the distance between your goals and your aspirations.”

It is further written that many resolutions fail because people are not as interested in change, for instance, You may think you are interested in change, and you very well may be, but are you ready? The chances are, if you’re setting new goals for yourself, you may be hungry for some level of change.

“Nevertheless, failure to thoroughly consider the corresponding what, when, where, and why may cause you to lack the ability to truly ask yourself if you are currently ready to make the necessary changes. You may find yourself making and taking every excuse under the sun that helps you step away from your path.”

Are resolutions still a thing?
Much as social media seems to show the world that new year resolutions are outdated, some disagree, in fact, they claim they still make resolutions, though have changed the format of doing this.

Racheal Ajwang, a public relations practitioner, says she still sets resolutions even when she is aware they are hard to keep, she says that these days, instead of setting just a resolution, she sets a goal.

“I gave up on plain resolutions because at some point in the year, I relax on them and eventually forget them,” she says.

She notes that as the years pass by, the whole thing of making resolutions becomes monotonous and some people start looking at the whole new year thing as just another month, week or day.

She says these days she sets a goal and tries to understand why it is important and then seeks ways of making it a reality.

A 2018 Forbes story stated that one has to take something broad such as making more money in the next year and break it down.

“How are you going to make more money? Will that be by getting a promotion, changing jobs, or starting a side business? What steps do you need to take? If you’re looking to change jobs, then you’ll need to start networking, update your resume, and plan your job search.”

Doreen Mirembe, a nurse with PanDental Surgery, says that resolutions are important, but is also quick to point out that people rarely focus and that usually explains why they fail.

“I like to take life the way God gives it to me, if it happens, it happens,” she says.