It’s New Year’s Eve, and it’s approaching midnight. You should be having fun, but those New Year’s Resolutions from last year are eating at the back of your mind. What even were they again? Definitely something to do with being healthier…oh, right! You wanted to give up chocolate. But that lasted about four days until your mom came whipped up a fresh batch of chocolate chip cookies. Oh, and you absolutely swore you would start going to the gym every, single, day. But that one went out the window too ever since you got the password to your best friend’s Netflix account. So now you have to decide what you want to do for yourself this New Year. But how effective are these resolutions in the first place? Why did they fail? Should you even start? Let’s hear from a few of WHB’s wishful thinkers to see what they think of New Year’s Resolutions, and a few of their own.

Senior Harrison Aponte is an optimist in regards to goals for the New Year: “I think New Year’s Resolutions are useful. They’re very constructive for our personal improvement,” he states, “but they’re difficult to follow because we always try to stop doing things that we like.” Senior Zach Davonski is a supporter of New Year’s Resolutions as well, but has a different take on why he believes they are so short lived: “Resolutions fail most of the time because they’re difficult and people don’t put in enough effort. The effectiveness of the resolution depends upon the personality and character of the person who is starting it.”

“My resolution this year is to not say ‘you go girl’ after everything I do.” Aponte exclaims, “But I once said I would stop eating Ring Dings and I am eating one right now so…” Aponte feels he is “realistic” in the amount of time his resolution would last, and says that it will endure “maybe a couple of months.” Davonski states that his resolution for the upcoming year is “to get shacked more,” (meaning getting caught in the barrel of a wave), and is hopeful that other people will join in on his resolution as well.

Everyone knows that holding a New Year’s Resolution is easier said than done. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. But starting out with appropriate sized goals makes it all a lot easier! Instead of hoping to break a bad habit in a week, make smaller targets each week. Keep track of your progress, and don’t get down in the dumps if you slip up once or twice. Get those resolutions ready WHB, and have a wonderful holiday break!