From losing weight to hitting the gym, eating healthy to staying hydrated, and bettering our grades to reducing our procrastination, it feels like everyone we know pledged to better themselves in the new year. But by the end of January, 80% of us abandon our New Year’s resolutions. We’re often left feeling overwhelmed or discouraged if we fail to set clear, realistic goals. While some members of Ramnation are happily boycotting resolutions, others have found ways to make productive, realistic goals that stick. 

Dr. Stufflet, an AP history teacher, explained, “I try to better myself in July just like I try to better myself in January.” He enjoys regular workouts, teaching a class at UCF, and spending time with his family, so he feels he doesn’t need New Year’s resolutions to become a better person. In affirmation, Mr. Davis, a physics teacher, said, “I prefer not to make a New Year’s Resolution because I feel like if it’s that important to you, you should live the entire year that way.” 

And they’re not wrong. Whether it’s January 1st or July 14th, there’s no wrong time to start achieving personal growth. Though the “new year, new me” trend is, well, trendy, it’s often ineffective, but there are some ways we can start creating achievable New Year’s resolutions. A Harvard Health article details the importance of breaking our big goals into smaller steps, committing ourselves, and holding ourselves accountable. 

Mrs. Black, an AP Psychology teacher, is dedicating herself to reading more for fun. Instead of starting with a huge to-read list, she’s decided to break it down. She joined a book club, so she reads one each month, and the other members help to hold her accountable. Mrs. Black’s goal is important to her and completely doable when broken down. Freshman Lydia Ross wanted to improve her organization, so she started with a small resolution: making her bed every day. So far, she’s been successful, and it’s motivating her to continue keeping her room clean.

Every year, I dream of molding myself into a new person. Whether it’s working out every day or bringing my GPA to a 5.0, I set high standards and hope to complete unrealistic goals. I, like many others, burned out and quickly abandoned my previous resolutions. But this year, in an attempt to be happier and genuinely improve my life, I decided to make a daily gratitude journal. Every night, I take a few minutes to write down everything I felt thankful for during the day. Whenever I feel upset or discouraged, I now have a long list to read, consisting of everything I enjoy about my life. 

So remember Rams, it’s okay if your high hopes for a New Year’s resolution haven’t worked out. We’re only at the beginning of 2020, and you can set goals and better yourself any time of year.