There’s something big at stake this year — and the next year, and the year after that. 

As the new year unfolds, anxiety often accompanies us: a fear of the unknown, of the transformations awaiting us and of the possibility of failure. The new year presents us with the opportunity to resolve our challenges and find fulfillment in success. But often, the resolutions we make only reflect what we believe to be the worst parts of ourselves. 

In today’s highly interconnected world where social media plays a significant role in self-presentation, many are quick to display their resolutions, with most involving a better physical appearance, weight loss and unattainable beauty standards. Oftentimes, these resolutions we set for ourselves only further our self-disatisfaction, rather than encouraging sustainable growth — especially not internal growth.

Although focusing on physical health and appearance is not inherently a negative thing, it is important to examine the reasons why so many people want to make drastic changes regarding their physiques each year. When we are consumed with how we look to the rest of the world, we forget to care for things like mental health and self-improvement, which can often lead to low self-esteem and unfulfillment. 

As college students in a constantly changing environment, it’s important to recognize the things we love about ourselves along with the things we wish to change. Progress and acceptance are a huge part of advancing, and setting unrealistic goals for ourselves every Jan. 1 only stunts our growth. 

By the time December comes back around, or even as early as summer, we question our lack of progress and commitment to the expectations we set for ourselves earlier in the year. This is often due to the fact that we choose resolutions that aren’t unique to our individual lives and aspirations, leaving us feeling unaccomplished. 

Our level of commitment never seems to reach past a simple statement of resolution, leaving us ungratified. It’s unusual to consider a new year where you just allow yourself to live along the way without the limitation of an unattainable resolution. Even if we don’t solidly commit to our resolutions, they still have the ability to affect us mentally, or in terms of our physical perception of ourselves.

With platforms like TikTok and Instagram, it’s extremely easy to lose sight of things that exist beyond the online world, especially ourselves. We are faced with constant examples of how to look and, practically, exist on a daily basis. The resolutions that you see on social media at the beginning of each year will never compare to the ones personal to you and your growth. 

Resolution culture combined with a quick-paced society offers nothing but a fear of commitment along with failure, and that’s why it fails to last through the 12 months. According to Time Magazine, statistics state “only 8% of people” stick to their resolutions the entire year. This idea of a “new me” often only ever panders to a change involving physicality, wealth and catering to other people in exchange for your own happiness. The societal expectations we encounter online are tedious, but temporary. We shouldn’t expect to make ourselves happy with the same superficial statements that we hear every year. 

A new year with the same resolutions only offers stagnation — a repetitive onslaught of new goals to take on, rather than being compassionate with yourself as you grow. Recognizing failures helps us appreciate successes, but avoiding achievable goals hinders the possibility of a smooth and promising year.  

The new year should not be used as an excuse to indulge in harmful attitudes or expectations. Change can happen at any moment in time — our ability to make progress is not constrained by the start of a new year. Progress means accepting yourself in times of change, even your limitations and failures. 

The wrong types of resolutions can truly be distorting and cause us mental anguish, as do many unreachable yet socially desirable goals. With that being said, staying healthy — physically, mentally and emotionally — should always be a top priority, but it seems the new year only convinces people that change has to be a reset, not a process. Accepting that change takes time and attainable goals are the greatest resolutions we can make for the new year.