Should New Years resolutions be encouraged?

[Autumnleaf]

It seems like yo yo dieters and other well meaning people embark on short motivational sprees every New Years. Are these healthy ways of exercising will power or are they merely exercises in futility that lead to heartache, weight gain and sore bodies?

 

[GrowingSmaller]

Good question. Sorry I have no data.

 

[disciple2011]

It seems like yo yo dieters and other well meaning people embark on short motivational sprees every New Years. Are these healthy ways of exercising will power or are they merely exercises in futility that lead to heartache, weight gain and sore bodies?

I made a New Year's Resolution in 1983 to not make New Year's Resolutions.

Kept it ever since.

But then I give up Lent for Lent every year.

 

[Autumnleaf]

What about this year?

 

[keith99]

I'm going to answer the general question, not weight specific.

Yes, mildly.

E.g. New Years can serve as a time for reflection and deciding that now would be a good time to start something to improve yourself that you already know you want to do.

 

[Paradoxum]

I always disliked being told by teachers to make a new years resolution. I had nothing big I wanted to change, so don't tell me I have to change sometimes.

I'm considering more exercise for this year... I'll have to see how I feel.

(I agree with Keith... they can be good times to decide to make a lifestyle change, as it gives a clear point for change).

 

[keith99]

I always disliked being told by teachers to make a new years resolution. I had nothing big I wanted to change, so don't tell me I have to change sometimes.

I'm considering more exercise for this year... I'll have to see how I feel.

(I agree with Keith... they can be good times to decide to make a lifestyle change, as it gives a clear point for change).

Thank you twice. It is nice to have people agree with me, but even more for giving a concrete example for why I said mildly.

People being pushed into New Years resolutions is usually bad.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

New years resolutions are great for allowing people to procrastinate and put off till January, what they should be doing in May lol.

"I'll make it my new years resolution to stop smoking" says the smoker in May
"I'll make it my resolution to lose weight" says the fat guy in September

...until New Years arrives, then it allows people to practice the fine art of back peddling and excuse making.

If there's something in your life that needs to change that's so important that it requires a resolution, it should be addressed at the time of need...picking New Years day is just arbitrary in my opinion.

 

[selfinflikted]

If there's something in your life that needs to change that's so important that it requires a resolution, it should be addressed at the time of need...picking New Years day is just arbitrary in my opinion.

Well, I don't think it's arbitrary. It's a brand new year, therefore a "new beginning." I do agree, though, that if there is something that needs to be changed, I say do it NOW instead of waiting.

 

[QueSeraSera]

I do think its helpful for some people because its a marker . An easy to remember date LOL!And the term "new year" psychologically can be encouraging .

I just don't know how much more if any success there is long term vowing a new years resolution than waking up any old day deciding to turn over a new leaf.

Change happens internally first and with determination over the long term not because of the date on a calendar. If it helps ? It could but I don't think anymore than your birthday ,the birth of a child ,the death of a loved one etc.

 

[WatchmansMoon]

Doesn't God call us in Scripture to make vows and covenants with Him? Why then would it be seen as bad somehow to make new year's resolutions, especially if we're rosolving to know Him more, or spend more time in prayer or study of the Bible? Maybe a key to keep in mind is remembering to depend on God to help us to keep the resolutions, and not trust in our own strength. And in that, may He be glorified.

 

[BeachSun]

Personally I believe any time of self reflection, new beginnings, and fresh starts is a good thing. If nothing else, it has us talking and thinking about it.

 

[Rajni]

It seems like yo yo dieters and other well meaning people embark on short motivational sprees every New Years. Are these healthy ways of exercising will power or are they merely exercises in futility that lead to heartache, weight gain and sore bodies?

I'm not really keen on the whole resolution thing anymore – if ever I was.

I prefer just taking it one day at a time and letting my evolution unfold
naturally rather than according to the calendar.

Doesn't God call us in Scripture to make vows and covenants with Him? Why then would it be seen as bad somehow to make new year's resolutions, especially if we're rosolving to know Him more, or spend more time in prayer or study of the Bible? Maybe a key to keep in mind is remembering to depend on God to help us to keep the resolutions, and not trust in our own strength. And in that, may He be glorified.

Jesus actually advised against making vows (see Matthew 5:33-37).

Which makes sense, since we don't really know for certain what the
future will bring that we could declare definitively what we will or
will not be doing at that point in time.


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[Paradoxum]

Thank you twice. It is nice to have people agree with me, but even more for giving a concrete example for why I said mildly.

People being pushed into New Years resolutions is usually bad.

 

[QueSeraSera]

I read an article today that said according to a study by University of Scranton ,45% of people make New Years Resolutions and 8% actually achieve them.