By Julien Bernard, Contributing Writer
Every year, people scribble down their New Year’s resolutions, a laundry list of goals and aspirations. But as time passes, it leaves many of those well-intentioned resolutions gathering dust alongside last year’s forgotten gym membership.
Why is it that this annual ritual of self-betterment so often ends in disappointment? So much of a disappointment, in fact, that Jan. 10 is celebrated as “Quitters’ Day,” an official holiday for when people give up on their New year’s resolutions. Is there something wrong with proclaiming a resolution? Or is it the fault of us that this tradition is deemed to fail.
Many people do not know that Jan. 10 is “quitters’ day” despite most people having a New Year’s resolution. Many students at Saint Leo share similar New Year’s resolutions. Nearly all of them were related to a career or working on their health, like eating better or focusing on the gym.
Despite the resolutions being alike, when it came to them following through on their New Year’s resolution, it was a very mixed bag. Some of them said that although difficult, they still consistently follow through on their goals.
Others said that they quit or even forgot about their New Year’s resolution soon after the beginning of the month. But the majority said that they struggle to stick to their New Year’s resolutions, they stay consistent for a short amount of time then stop before repeating the cycle.
In general, Saint Leo students believe New Year’s resolutions were ultimately a good thing.
Freshman Gabriel Russel who majors in computer science said, “I’d say they’re a good thing. It’s good to have a good outlook towards the future, to have at least some sort of plan for what’s next and an idea of what you want to change or do.”
In addition to this, the students agreed that discipline is necessary for people to actually accomplish their New Year’s resolutions. The problem with New Year’s resolutions is discipline and remaining true to the promises people make to themselves.
In 2025, people have instant access to all kinds of addictions and distractions from the things they need or want to do. If we just rely solely on our motivation, we are doomed to fail because of all the distractions that come our way.
A good solution to keep up with your New Year’s resolutions is to start by writing it down. When asked about good ways to not give up on their New Year’s resolutions, many Saint Leo students said that writing it down is the most effective way to overcome it. There are many different suggestions and forms of writing it down, such as using a calendar, notebook, or an app.
According to New Scientist, writing things down increases connectivity linked to memory and learning between different areas in the brain. According to The Bucket List Journal, 42% of people are more likely to achieve their goals by just writing them down. Some students implied that guilt is used as a motivator or promote having a friend who can hold you accountable for sticking with your resolution.
Overall, there’s a plethora of different ways that we can make having a resolution viable. The biggest problem when it comes to resolutions is people struggling to find discipline and consistency, however it seems each person can work around this by finding a niche way to help them succeed.
Even though Jan. 10 is an unknown holiday credited as a joke among many in society, the concept of a New Year’s resolution seems very real and sincere to people. New Year’s resolutions are more than just promises; they’re a reflection of our hopes and aspirations. Let’s remind ourselves that change is a journey, not a destination.
