Many students begin making New Year’s resolutions with the hopes of improving themselves— whether it’s hitting the gym more often, eating healthier or adopting better habits. But more than a month into 2025, are you keeping up with them?
Madhavi Menon, who holds a Ph.D. from Florida Atlantic University in developmental psychology, has studied areas like identity development and self-esteem. She said while the New Year may serve as a motivator for some, it’s not the only time to start focusing on personal growth.
“When people think about self-improvement or setting new goals, the New Year feels like an easy time to reset,” Menon said. “It’s a fresh start, and culturally, it aligns with the holiday celebrations that often involve indulgence, making Jan. 1 feel like the time to get back on track.”
But she adds that people don’t need an arbitrary date on the calendar to make changes.
While resolutions like getting healthier or achieving personal goals are common, Menon points out that societal pressure plays a significant role in their popularity.
“You don’t want to be the one person who doesn’t have a goal. It’s about feeling a sense of belonging and being part of the collective effort,” she said. “It’s not just peer pressure—it’s the desire to connect with others, to feel that you’re doing the same things that everyone around you is doing.”
Menon cautions against putting off personal growth for the sake of a specific date. In her view, waiting until a specific milestone often results in procrastination.
“If you decide you need to make a change, you should start right away,” she said. “The longer you wait, the more time you spend thinking about it instead of actually doing it. Starting small and taking incremental steps is far more effective than waiting for the ‘perfect’ time.”
One student, Samantha Cemoin, sophomore nursing major, echoed Menon’s sentiments when discussing her own approach to New Year’s resolutions.
“For me, implementing a healthy lifestyle is all about making gradual and practical changes to your mindset and habits. A lifestyle should be maintainable,” she shared.
Menon suggests that someone hoping to cut down on sugar shouldn’t wait until the New Year to make a drastic change.
“Start by cutting out dessert, rather than telling yourself you’re going to eliminate all sugar from your life in one go,” she said. “That small step can be the beginning of a bigger change, and the earlier you start, the sooner you’ll see results.” Menon highlights that the key to meaningful change is not timing, but consistency.
“Small steps toward a goal, even if they seem insignificant, can add up over time. The point is to avoid waiting for the ‘perfect moment’ to improve your life,” Menon said.
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