New Year’s Resolutions
It’s that time again - you are winding down for what really is one of the best times of the year. With competition not only embraced during the family monopoly but in the inevitable mulled wine and pigs in blanket consuming, it is easier than ever to put the thought of routine, juice cleanses or Couch-to-5k to the back of your mind. Because who would think about those things at Christmas? – I wouldn’t know, as they aren’t my friends.
Joking aside, everyone holds themselves accountable at some point during the latter months - be it work, relationships or personally related – the natural ebbs and flows the year brings allows us to focus on valuable, sometimes timely, self-improvement.
So why does the timer for such improvement usually start when the first sunrise looms on a crisp January 1st morning? Why is January the month for ‘dry’ everything? Doesn’t this only allude to more guilt and dry conversation (if you pardon the pun)? Not suggesting you need all these things to have fun – but do we sometimes think we need to resolve something when actually you think you want to change things? I also believe I learn and overcome so much during the year that resolutions can manifest into a glorified pipe dream.
When someone asks me for my New Year’s resolution, I suddenly feel this unsound pressure to think of something unique and fun like “reconnect with nature” or “become more confident” – but what does that actually mean? I then get all philosophical and delve into the compounded reasoning of what these vague statements actually represent in my brain. The conclusion is usually that:
1. I spend too much of my life in front of a screen; and
2. I am just like most 24-year-olds who are socially anxious but consider it a personality trait.
Like many, a constant resolution of mine over the years has poignantly reverted to the likes of “becoming thin” or “feeling happy by Summer” – but WHY? I am already active, for the most part, healthy, and doing the best I can. Isn’t that enough?
In recent years, however, I can empathise that the revolving door of social awareness has slowly made headway in reverting to pre-Instagram-obsessive thinking. This exists in allowing ourselves to finally feel comfort in imperfect or uncomfortable thoughts, to find our inner strength – teach us a lesson, in other words. One hero of 2022 for me was body-positivity activist and social media presence Sasha Pallari – who lives by the mantra: “Looking beautiful is an opinion, feeling beautiful is a choice”. Suddenly having access to such strong, confident women on a usually non-inclusive platform was a welcome relief. It also taught me embracing this valuable content and language is also a choice – no one is asking you to stay in the TRIANGL bikini model era nor making you believe you should.
So, for my New Year’s resolution this year, I will put down the baton and say my time succumbing to unnecessary social pressure has ceased. I am a free woman, take me or leave me – my body does not define me, and I am so much more than a daily step count (*pops cork*).
I asked the Evoke Team what their 2023 goals are, and this is what they shared:
Millie’s resolutions:
“I would like to firstly find my way back to the gym after a 2 yearlong break (due to the pandemic). Also, to learn the basics of Italian so I can convincingly order 'Spaghetti alle vongole' in restaurants (essential). Finally, kicking the digital dopamine habit and commit to slower living.”
Lauren’s resolutions:
“I like to find a word to guide my year and decisions. Mainly because as soon as I put something into a resolution, some self-sabotage resolutely decides to do the opposite. This year my word is PEACE. I'm looking forward to a year of settling in. Most years my outlook is aggressively ambitious. Not to say that PEACE isn't ambitious but the route I'm looking to take to achieve will be a lot less stress inducing. I'm ready to settle in. To bring my focus inward a little with less attention given to the scroll. Ultimately to be more in the moment.”
Devon’s resolutions:
“I would like to organise my finances better, make improvements to my climbing – which is a big passion of mine, and, like Millie, I want to live slower”.
