Andrew Harrington

New Years resolutions, a lot of people make them, few people follow through. At the time you are reading this, it is probably too late to guide your resolution if you made one, but it is never too late to change them.

While I am not one who makes resolutions every year, throughout the year I try to hold myself to higher standards, and it is often hard to follow through. Exercising, eating better and reading more frequently are all good things, but they are much harder to practice when you are used to the opposite.

The solution is simple: make a resolution that will both further your goals, but also be enjoyable along the way. If you dislike exercising, is there a specific exercise that you enjoy that would be just a little bit more enjoyable for you to the point that you at least try to do it more often? For me, that is biking. When trying to eat better, does that mean you have to eat salad every day even if you do not like lettuce? Absolutely not, there are tons of food options that are healthy, or at least healthier than what you would otherwise go for. Trying to read more? It does not have to be a 1,000 page non-fiction biography. Read newspaper articles (like this one), listen to audiobooks or read genres that actually interest you.

Another reason I feel resolutions fall flat the majority of the time is that they are too specific. There are times where specific goals are necessary, but when you’re trying to make yourself 1% better every single day, do you really need any other goal? I challenge everyone to choose one aspect of their life and do everything they can to improve it over the next 365 days.

Targeting perfection leaves the day-to-day progress feeling empty and meaningless. Celebrate that progress, embrace the struggle and come out on top.

That begs the question: What is my New Year’s Resolution? I thought long and hard, but I decided I would like to pick up and become skilled at one new hobby that benefits me either mentally or physically. A few options I am looking into are chess or swimming.

Throughout the journey, I am not going to guarantee myself something I cannot deliver on. There will be no exact time to beat or ability level to get to, that will only take the joy out of the process.

For those that do set resolutions and achieve them, move along, you have it all figured out. Everyone is different, and some do strive to reach specific goals; however, the rest of us need to change something for a resolution to actually hold weight.

Lastly, Happy New Year to everyone, and thank you for continuing to support the Pierce County Journal, my articles, others’ articles and local journalism across the area.