Compliments of Agnes Hobmaier, President of MSBCA

With the New Year quickly approaching, you may be ready to make your New Year’s resolution. This is good, but did you know that you don’t have to? Some experts encourage you to wait. Yes, some do actually do. Why is that?

1. New Year’s is a stressful time. The New Year is right after the holidays. Many people gained weight from eating holiday foods, spent too much money on Christmas gifts, and so forth. Yes, you may want to change now, but you are more likely to succeed when you don’t rush and give it time.

After the holidays, you have so much on your plate. In fact, you may have too much. You may find it overwhelming to make a New Year’s resolution, let alone try to keep one. This is where it is important to remember that New Year’s resolutions are designed to improve lives and reduce stress, not create more.

2. You do not have to rush. Many people make New Year’s resolutions because they feel like they have to. There is no law saying you have to create a goal for the New Year or that you have to make your goal right away. If you are serious about improving your life or making a change, think about a resolution before deciding on one. Don’t wait until someone asks you at 11:30 on New Years Eve. Instead, plan ahead or wait until the time is right for you to make yours.

3. Poor weather isn’t getting you down. Most areas of the United States, with a few exceptions, experience poor weather conditions during the first of the year. Depending on where you live, the New Year and the month of January may greet with you wind, snow, ice, freezing rain, and cold temperatures. The weather impacts our body and emotions in a number of diverse ways. You are more likely to stick with a goal when your mind and body are in the right mind frames. For most, winter is not that time.

For example, are you overweight? If weight loss is your New Year’s resolution, you may have trouble in the winter. If you avoid gyms, you are essentially left with the option of exercising in your home. If you wait until the weather is nicer, it will be easier for you to lose weight. You are provided with fresher, in season vegetables, and beautiful weather for walking or exercising outdoors.

4. No pressure from friends and family. Since most individuals celebrate the New Year with friends and family, you will have those around you asking about your New Year’s resolution. If you aren’t ready to make one, say so. Most will understand. With that said, resolutions are often scrutinized. So, do you want to lose weight, but only have about ten pounds to shed? If so, you will hear about it from others. This pressure may cause you to change your New Year’s resolution, but it shouldn’t. You only need to worry about you and you alone. For that reason, wait until the pressure is off.

5. Because you can! As previously stated, New Year’s resolutions are optional. Although they are a good thought and a wonderful way to create a life changing goal, they are not required by any means. This means that not only can you not make a resolution, but you can make it anytime you want. So, if you want to wait do so because you can.

As you can see, there are a number of reasons why you should hold off on making a New Year’s resolution. Of course, you don’t have to. A New Year’s resolution is not a race. You can make a resolution and not start working on it for a few months. However, why not just opt for a springtime or summer resolution? If it is easy for you, then do it!