New Year Resolutions: Stop the Hate
It’s a universal law of humanity: with the New Year comes New Year resolutions. Whether it be eating more vegetables, seeing relatives more often, or refusing to make any resolutions at all, January 1st is filled with people mentally and verbally announcing to themselves that they will stick to this seemingly unrealistic (but beneficial) goal.
Hate for a Good Thing?
Whether or not these goals seem attainable throughout the year, people constantly “hate” on the fact that someone else sets a resolution for himself or herself. Perhaps not directly, but there is always an ambiance of doubt and hesitation in the air when the ball drops and you reconsider setting a goal for yourself. It’s that “New Year New Me” stereotype that is coupled with the resolution tradition. You find it all over social media, on Internet memes, and in conversation.
One specific verdict that gets a TON of bashing is the “I’m going to work out more” resolution. The hatred for this newly-found willpower is mostly found amongst gym members that have a set schedule, a set program, or just really enjoy going to a gym that isn’t jam-packed with newbies that have no gym etiquette (yet). And this I understand, for I too have my own little gym to-do list and I like to not have to deal with standing in a 20-minute line for the squat rack.
But I will never hate this popular resolution, and I will never act annoyed with it. I’m actually happy each and every year to see so many people try to make going to the gym a priority in their life. Yeah, they may not know how to re-rack weights properly and they may not stick with it for more than a month, but they are making an effort. In a health and fitness environment, it is ridiculous to think that regular gym members might hate the idea of someone attempting to share the same passion for fitness that you do.
It is understandable to become annoyed with hearing so many people state insane goals for the upcoming year, especially knowing most of them won’t last past March. But it should also be something to applaud. Setting a new goal for yourself, in general, is a step. Yeah, most would agree that you don’t need a specific holiday (or a Monday) to be your starting point for a new shift in your life, but some people actually find value in these days. New Years resolutions are something to applaud. Joining a gym, even for just a month, is something to be proud of. Hearing your friend say that they want to go on more runs or make better food choices in the New Year and immediately doubting them just isn’t cool.
