By Miriam Mathie

Fizz in hand, counting down the seconds to another year with your loved ones close. Bet you the first thing they say after “Happy New Year” is “Do you have a resolution?” and most of you will feel a pressure to do something drastic to kick off the year, whether it’s ‘couch to 5k’ or finally going to the gym that you’ve been paying for over the last year. We, as people, see January as a fresh start, a chance to finally get our lives in order after gorging on a little too much cheese and chocolate over the Christmas break, greeting our resolutions like old friends we’ve put off seeing year after year. Well, as you’ll be itching to know what I’ve chosen to do, and why I’m here nagging on about resolutions, I’ll put it plainly – I don’t have one. 

This isn’t to say that having a resolution is a bad thing, I respect those who get themselves in gear and out doing exercise or into a new hobby if that’s something that is important to them, but it just isn’t for me. The pressure of change is just unnecessary and contradictory to everything else society is promoting now. Frankly, it’s a toxicity that none of us need in our life and I’d rather not have another chore to add to the list. Like, have you tried surviving a January or February in Scotland? It’s a form of torture, I’m telling you. 

Talking about torture, as a chubby, post-puberty pre-teen, the first half of every year since 2013 surrounded losing as much weight as I possibly could. Gyms, running, dieting… I’ve tried it all, and yet, have never – EVER – been happy with myself. Regardless of what we choose to have as a resolution, we put an immense amount of pressure on ourselves to keep up with it and then are filled with guilt if we don’t. It’s silly, really, and creates an atmosphere that none of us are good enough where we are right now. When, in reality, whatever helps you get through the craziness of life, even if that’s having mid-day naps or eating a bar of Cadbury’s chocolate, shouldn’t be so harshly criticised. 

Instead, with my resolution being no resolution, I’ve started appreciating every day a little more and value the improvements I make without any pressure. I’ve invested a lot of time into my friendships and enjoy each of my little personality fads without having to dedicate the rest of my 2024 to maintaining them. I don’t see the need for a resolution when I can learn to be happy where I am and who I am right in this very moment. 

So, regardless of your choice of resolution, or like me, you’ve chosen not to, I hope you know that there’s much of you that’s good enough where you already are. You are not a new person, and you shouldn’t have to feel like you must be one either. New Year, Same You. 

More than satisfactory, totally amazing, and good enough YOU.

(Totally not writing this because I don’t want to join in on running ANY time soon… absolutely not, ever happening.)