As time winds down on New Year’s Eve, excitement to create resolutions for the upcoming year is a usual tradition. Entering the new year, many people create goals that initially seem achievable, but end up being challenging or forgotten. Resolutions are a path to change; however, the change may also be unachievable. 

Going to the gym to get fit, eating healthy or studying more, are just a few goals that many people set. Many times, resolutions are started on the first day of the new year but tend to fade out after the second or third week. So how can resolutions be useful?  

Setting base-level goals such as eating out less or joining a club can slowly ease the process of the overall resolution. Jumping into the resolution itself may be difficult, so creating a plan to achieve it is a way to accomplish the full resolution. 

Students at UTEP share their insight on whether resolutions work and how they manage to set realistic goals. 

Isaí Morga, a junior majoring in finance, has set 12 resolutions for this new year. A few of Morga’s resolutions are to be healthy physically and mentally, pass classes with an A or B and be more consistent with working out at the gym.  

“I believe whenever people make their own New Year’s resolutions, it is always possible to achieve it if you put your mind to it,” Morga said. 

Resolutions can be a way for people to change or improve themselves, however, following through with the resolution can be difficult. So, is setting resolutions worth it? 

“It is helpful for everyone just because we have a goal we want to achieve or something that we must do,” Morga said. “In my case, for me yes, I tend to go through them every once in a while, so I know if I’m doing what I’m supposed to do or not.” 

With setting goals and or resolutions, it is important to stay realistic. 

Terry Scholar Matthew Gardea, a junior majoring in philosophy and minoring in political science, set resolutions to focus on family relationships. 

“The past year, I had the opportunity to leave campus,” Gardea said. “In the fall of 2022, I moved to Washington D.C. where I got to work in the Senate, and then I got to be a part of another program based in Austin in the spring and the summer, so going a whole academic year being away from home has highlighted the importance of (family). It’s important to maintain those family ties and just kind of remember where you come from.” 

Many resolutions can be set on weight loss or changing oneself, setting resolutions to be closer to others, being more intentional or even setting a schedule for the week. 

“I think as we start a new year, for example, one goal that most people set is I want to be more healthy or I want to start working out, so then (in) January the gym is flooded,” Gardea said. “People that actually set expectations, I think there’s a difference between setting a New Year’s resolution and setting expectations.”  

Setting expectations can be completely different than a resolution, however, setting something that individuals can be realistic of and or committed to is important to seeing the change that they want. So, resolutions can work if there is commitment to the goal.  

With the new year starting, remember that everyone goes at their own pace. So, enjoy this fresh start and here’s to a new year with new goals. 

Avery Escamilla-Wendell is the web/copy editor and may be reached at [email protected] or Instagram @by_avery_escamilla