Revolutionising resolutions

**On New Year’s Eve, Brad Paisley commented that “tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.” What better way to begin plotting your 2013 storyline than by selecting your very own New Year resolutions to help steer it in the right direction?**

Positive or not, tradition informs us once again in the aftermath of what was most probably an indulgent and guilt-ridden festive season, to cast away our bad habits and formulate new rules to live our brand new year by.

However, the idea of self-improvement is unfortunately never quite synonymous with the reality. Even Bridget Jones realises the flaws in beginning the ever-popular diet resolution on New Year’s Day claiming we “all really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover”.

So therein lies my first piece of advice on compiling the perfect list of New Year’s resolutions – take some time in deciding them. If you want to give these individual commitments any chance of a twelve-month lifespan they must have longevity, something that is less likely to come about from deciding them at the drop of a hat.

After all, you wouldn’t propose on the first date so why would you propose your resolutions for an entire year on only the first date of the calendar?

Last minute and irrational decision-making is partly to blame for most resolutions lasting little longer than a few days so do yourself a kindness, and use the time in January to tread the water with a few potential resolutions. Those that prove doable over a longer period of time are the ones that you can officially devote yourself to following through till next New Year’s Eve.

Secondly, any resolutions need to be personal. We are more likely to fall at the first hurdle trying to achieve goals if they are not tailored to our own individual lives. Try to avoid generic and general resolutions that have little real meaning to you. If any are at a loss, personal priorities are always a good place to start.

For example, us Warwick students might try avoiding Vialli’s after a night at Evolve, resisting from spending money in Costcutter on unnecessary items or even devoting more time to the library, working on floor three and upwards rather than socialising on floor two and below. Little unique alterations to broad resolutions can make all the difference in helping you stick to them.

Another top tip is to not ask too much of yourself. Try Henry Moore’s approach and “think in terms of the day’s resolutions, not the year’s”. Perhaps, 365 small resolutions carried out each day will amount to much more than one unrealistic never-ending goal ever could.

The more you ask of yourself, the more pressure you pile on – it is important to not lose sight of the fact that New Year’s resolutions provide a light-hearted opportunity to help us improve and go about the next year a little differently to the previous one, not dramatically test ourselves.

Do something a little differently day by day and you might be surprised with how much you achieve long-term as a result.

Nonetheless, what lies ahead is an exciting and bright new year with plenty yet to come. So, contrary to Paisley, I would advice on worrying less about starting a brand new 365-page novel, and simply focus on writing a classic, whatever shape or form.

Consider your resolutions again, make them personal, be realistic and make them count. As a final piece of advice, we are ultimately all only human so why not let your five senses help guide you on this one…

Learn to listen as opportunity sometimes knocks softly, sniff out trouble and avoid it, make new friends but keep in touch with the old ones too, taste success (doing something you love will make your accomplishment that much sweeter), and finally, take the time to slow down as you never know what you might see around you.