New Year’s resolutions are hailed as the best way to begin the new year, the very glue that holds our noncommittal society together.  Indeed, our hastily-planned goals and incomplete intentions are almost always abandoned by the end of January–most-likely even sooner.  Just think: have you ever heard someone bragging about their undying loyalty to their local gym in the middle of July because they are “making a resolution and sticking to it?” No, because any life goal worth keeping isn’t made at approximately 11:59 p.m. on December 31.  Any resolution worth committing to should be given a period of consideration, preferably one longer than 30 seconds.  

Not only do New Year’s resolutions offer our society with a quick and easy way to feel validated, but they also assist in preventing self-improvement. These resolutions ultimately fail and lower self-esteem while simultaneously providing an excuse to put off exercising or eating right or “being the best you you can be.”  If someone is on the fence about starting a new diet, for example, they may be less-likely to start if it is the beginning of December.  To feel better about themselves, our society procrastinates these life-changing pursuits in order to feel socially accepted come January 1 when our friends inevitably ask, “what’s your New Year’s resolution?”  New Year’s resolutions give us an excuse to put off our difficult commitments.  This year, when people ask me what my resolution is, I’m going to tell them proudly “I don’t have one,” and than walk away, shamelessly eating my snickers bar and thinking about the next movie on Netflix that I’m going to watch.