New Year’s…What’s all the fuss about?

Happy 2026, Warwick! I hope you have had a restful and enjoyable Winter break, whatever that may mean for you. Whether you spent New Year’s out on the town until four in the morning or curled up in bed watching a Christmas film, whatever you did is valid.
Of course, society continues to encourage us to celebrate the coming of the New Year by staying up late, being highly optimistic, and making resolutions to ‘start the new year right’. And sure, there is value in a fresh start and approaching something new with high spirits – but could the pressure to do so actually be more damaging than delightful? 

Obviously, while it is entirely natural to be excited to celebrate New Year’s and feel the desire to share that joy with others via social media, we must also consider those who do not feel the same

For some of us, New Year’s can be an extremely daunting time, and certainly a chore rather than a choice. It is increasingly common these days to see hundreds of posts on social media depicting a ‘picture-perfect’ New Year’s Eve party, which only makes us question whether we are failing because we are not there. Many people feel excluded by seeing such things, already putting a downer on the changing of the calendar. Anyone who has previously been experiencing some mental turmoil and negative feelings towards their progress or pride over the past year is therefore thrust into a 2026 where they are already questioning and isolating themselves.   

Obviously, while it is entirely natural to be excited to celebrate New Year’s and feel the desire to share that joy with others via social media, we must also consider those who do not feel the same. For many, the fact that they have successfully made it to the next wall calendar is a great achievement – and that is certainly something we should celebrate with one another. It is vital to remember that everyone is different and worthy of celebration when it comes to how they choose to start the New Year, whether that involves all the bells and whistles imaginable or whether that is by completely ignoring it and treating it like any other day to be powered through.   

Something else worth querying is the nature of the highly praised concept of ‘resolutions’. Typical resolutions often involve things such as a person wanting to have a healthier diet, drink more water, drink less alcohol, do more exercise, spend less time on social media, or pick up a new hobby – all of which may work great for some. Certain people are suited to setting a specific goal at a specific time and holding themselves accountable to it across a pre-determined time frame. However, hearing about such resolutions can be damaging for others who do not wish to ‘become the best version of themselves’ in the New Year, further amplifying feelings of failure and self-deprecating thoughts.    

We have to remember to try not to compare our experiences and feelings with those of others because we are all different; we are all human

 We can also question the concept of the holiday itself because, other than New Year’s Day being a bank holiday, there is nothing particularly special about it – it is only significant if that is what we make it. People around the world may view it as a reset or use the new year as a benchmark to change themselves for what they think is ‘the better’; this is perfectly acceptable if that is what you want, but it does not mean everyone should. It is also perfectly normal to wish to change nothing about oneself and only try to feel better in yourself throughout the next year. Whether you’ve been feeling overjoyed or underwhelmed so far in 2026, you have to remember that both are equally okay.   

So, yes, be optimistic about this year because you will always have the possibility to achieve great things. But you can also just be proud of getting through a year in this ever-difficult world, knowing that you are trying your best. We have to remember to try not to compare our experiences and feelings with those of others because we are all different; we are all human. After all, you probably won’t even remember the start of the year by the time we reach August. It’s only 365 days, then it all starts again!