Whether it’s dieting, a new outlook on life, or plans to embark on a trip, the Bell Staff agrees that we have all made a New Years Resolution at some point in our lives. The question is, does making a New Years Resolution benefit a person throughout the entire year? In most cases, maintaining a New Years Resolution is not as easy as you might have hoped when you proudly proclaimed your plans for change on the first of the year.

The key to succeeding in a resolution is to not bite off more than you can chew. Instead of making a resolution to lose a ridiculous amount of weight, try to lose an attainable amount each month. It is important to make short-term goals in order to achieve your long-term goal.

The first day of the year is a symbol for change for many people around the world. The Bell staff would agree that you should take opportunities for change and growth throughout the year, not just on New Year’s Day. Changing your lifestyle is much more a journey than it is a sudden proclamation, so it’s good to start the journey any other time of the year.

Then there’s the die-hard New Years Resolution-makers who see the day as a reset button and perfect opportunity for a change. Usually in this group are the people who make actual commitments to their resolution for an entire year, and also the people who decide to quit something but end up doing it again shortly after New Year’s Day.

As a staff, we decided that making New Years Resolutions are great if you set realistic goals to achieve along the way. However, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to change your lifestyle at any time of the year.