As the holiday season comes to a close, there’s one more tradition looming on the horizon that seems to either get people really excited or leave them filled with dread – New Year’s resolutions. Like other holiday traditions, New Year’s resolutions just aren’t for everyone, and that’s okay. In this blog, we’re taking a look at some reasons to set New Year’s resolutions as well as some of the top reasons our therapists may recommend skipping them.
Top 5 Reasons to Set New Year’s Resolutions
Whether you really enjoying setting and achieving New Year’s resolutions or you know you need the added motivation to work on a goal in 2023, setting resolutions may be right for you. Some of the reasons why New Year’s resolutions are beneficial include:
- Setting and achieving goals – if you have specific, meaningful goals you want to achieve this year, establishing a New Year’s resolution can add extra inspiration to help you achieve these goals.
- Inspire yourself – sometimes, we need a little extra push to get started working toward a goal, and New Year’s resolutions can do just that.
- Make life better for loved ones – even though New Year’s resolutions are about personal goals, self-improvement has a ripple effect that can positively impact our family and loved ones.
- Increase self-awareness – taking time to reflect on and set New Year’s resolutions can help us to better understand our own needs and desires.
- Feel more hopeful – New Year’s resolutions help to increase feelings of hope. When you start out the year working toward a goal, you’ll have a positive outlook and increased sense of hope for the future.
Top 5 Reasons to Skip New Year’s Resolutions
If you feel like New Year’s resolutions do more harm than good, that may mean you should skip resolutions. Some of the common reasons to skip New Year’s resolutions include:
- Unnecessary stress – some people have enough pressure from other areas of their lives, and New Year’s resolutions can serve as an added layer of pressure they don’t need.
- Feeling not good enough – setting New Year’s resolutions can actually increase feelings of low self-worth, especially when those resolutions focus on the ways you feel inadequate.
- Giving into “should” – many people set New Year’s resolutions that are centered on all the things they “should” be doing. I should eat better, I should lose weight, I should find a spouse. “Should” statements may cause more harm than good, so it’s important to set goals that are about what you want to achieve rather than what you feel you should achieve.
- Putting progress on display – for some, the public nature of New Year’s resolutions that you share with friends and loved ones encourages them to keep working at their goals. For others, this makes them feel embarrassed or ashamed if they fall behind on their resolutions.
- Not picking the right resolutions – many New Year’s resolutions are doomed to fail. They aren’t specific, success can’t be measured, and they may not be meaningful to the individual who sets them. Choosing the right resolution ensures you can succeed and feel good about your progress. Choosing the wrong resolution may leave you feeling bad about yourself.
Want to Talk About the New Year?
Whether you’re worried about New Year’s resolutions or you’re just worried about ringing in the new year in general, it may be beneficial to work with a therapist. At the Center for CBT in New York City, our trusted therapists can help you navigate the new year and work on achieving goals. If you’re ready to learn more, call our practice at (917) 596-8955 or complete our online inquiry form.
Photo by Adolfo Felix on Unsplash
