A new gym membership left unused. Stacks of books unopened on a nightstand. Daily journal entries that end on Jan. 12.
Sound familiar?
Failed resolutions are more common than successful ones. The pressure to complete life changing goals all set on one day is daunting.
As the month of January comes to an end, students who made resolutions look back on their progress. Whether it was a simple resolution like making their bed every morning, or major like to exercise every day before school, the task and pressure of completing a resolution is daunting and often leads to failure by Feb. 1.
Resolutions can be a cruel awakening to reality. Jan 1 is an intimidating date as it brings on the pressure of having to make changes in one’s life. Major, and even minor, life changes cannot be made in one day. To avoid succumbing to the societal pressures of having to make resolutions, students should treat the first of every month as a time for change.
A theory that has dated back to the 1960s states that habits take 28 days to form if it is taken one habit at a time. Resolutions are ways for students to set goals for the entire year, and this is usually not limited to only having one goal. By creating a goal for the beginning of each month, students can focus on one new habit at a time.

Setting a goal to have a new resolution each month prevents the want to “give up” in the middle of January. It also allows for multiple goals to be set and completed within a year. If one habit does not form in a month, it can roll into the next month. Taking each goal month by month offers a better chance at success.
Resolutions are not meant to be scary, but the need to make one is intimidating. By treating the first of every month as a time for change, there is a better chance at reaching the “resolution” at the end of the year. It also allows for multiple habitual changes to be made in one’s life instead of one overarching goal.