By Emily Freer
The tradition of creating a New Year’s Resolution has existed for 4,000 years, dating back to the Babylonians who created these promises to start the year off on good terms with the gods, according to History.com.
Nowadays, they say that 45 percent of Americans create resolutions, but only 8 percent are successful in achieving their goals.
This year, Miles Carter, a junior communications major with a concentration in graphic design, is part of that 45 percent. In 2019, Carter vowed his year to an action: to make this bed everyday. He admits that he only halfway accomplished this goal. This year, he focuses on overall health and growth.
“To stay healthy and expand my horizons, to go out of my comfort zone,” says Carter, “Doing things I wouldn’t normally do.”
Carter adds that this new year presents him with new chances to be grateful for life.
“Of course we get new days every day, but I think a new year is something that’s much greater,” says Carter, “Of course you’re grateful for life cause a lot of people didn’t make it to the new year but just being grateful for life and new opportunities.”
Dillon Garbrandt, a senior biology major, also associates the new year with new opportunities. He says that that a new year is a perfect opportunity to have a fresh start, reset, and start over.
“I think it’s a good thing that people are using some random holiday to be like ‘okay, let me get my life together,’” says Gardbrandt, “It’s great that everybody is doing things that will better themselves.”
Garbrandt reflected on previous resolutions, saying that he made them too specific. Moving forward, he will be taking a broader approach to his yearly promise.
“So [saying] ‘I want to get healthier’ instead of ‘I want to work out twice a week,” Gardbrandt says, “I’m not restricted to only going to the gym twice a week to feel like I’m accomplishing my new year’s resolution. It could be I’m taking time to myself, or I’m exercising when I can.”
This new year, he is focused on setting himself up for success in the future but getting things done such as graduating, getting a job, applying for graduate school, and what comes next.
Both Carter and Gardbrandt advised that although a new year presents new opportunities to grow, there is no need to push yourself.
“Don’t hold yourself to the expectations [of being] on a strict schedule of trying to complete your new year’s resolutions,” says Gardbrandt, “Give yourself grace and flexibility.”
Carter emphasized the importance of taking care of yourself.
“Stay you, be you and just know everything is going to be alright. Don’t be overwhelmed with the new year,” says Carter, “Like I said, new year, new opportunities. Keep your head on, stay safe, check your mental health, and take care of yourself because you come first.”