The New Year Illusion

Societal expectations have created an idealistic perception of the new year. We commonly hear the phrase “New year, new me!” which forms the approach taken during this time. People use the new year as a blank page, a fresh start. They set goals and plan the year ahead of them as if to gain control of what the new year will bring. We sit down at the end of the year to reflect on the past twelve months, our achievements, our mistakes, and our areas for improvement. 

In Mexican culture, there are different traditions and customs when the year comes to an end. People often eat twelve grapes alongside the twelve bells to welcome the new year. They make wishes hoping to have good luck each month of the year. There are even some families that when the clock strikes midnight will get underneath the table with the same purpose of starting the year positively. These traditions, even though they are out of the ordinary, are still on the more common side of New Year customs for Mexican culture. For example, there is a tradition amongst Latinos that involves sweeping the whole house clean before the calendar restarts to be able to start the year off in a brand new mindset, and without unwanted energy from the past year. This all goes to show that no matter who you are or where you come from, the feeling of needing to be in control of the future and of creating your luck, starts on the last day of the year.  

Most people tend to make their New Year's resolutions in hopes of becoming “new people,” hence the saying of “New Year, new me” but this unrealistic approach to the topic modifies the whole outcome.

 Nevertheless, when people think of the new year as an opening to start improving their habits and daily routines, that's when the New Year resolutions impact us.

Most people make their resolutions, and as an outcome expect to uproot their entire lives in a matter of days in hopes of becoming their idealistic selves. In comparison, when seeing it from a realistic perspective the purpose of creating this list is to make improvements in who you already are. The idea of resolutions is to slowly become the person you truly want to be through hard work and consistency. As a matter of fact, “88% of people quit their New Year resolutions the second Friday of January” (Baylor College of Medicine). This emphasizes the attitude that most people have towards their goals and how easily they give up on them once the initial thrill of it fizzles out. 

Throughout the year, the most important thing to remember is that your goal should be to become a better version of yourself without changing who you are. This ensures that you stay true to yourself while actively working toward the person you want to become. New Year's resolutions help keep us accountable, but only consistency will sustain our goals for the rest of the year.