When Gen Z debates the relevance of New Year’s resolutions

As the sun rises on the first day of the year, New Year resolutions once again have become the talk of the town. While some pledged to adopt a healthy lifestyle by hitting the gym and having a green and clean diet, others sought a breakaway from unhealthy habits like smoking and drinking.

“Resolution is a great way to welcome the beginning of the year with optimism,” says Adhila Yasmin, a first-year medical student. The question is whether resolution is a powerful tool for transformation or just another myth we recycle every 365 days, she adds.

Praveen Kallingal, who works in a private firm, views resolutions through a practical lens. “These are effective only if you set them by considering your capability to achieve them,” he says.

People share different views and perspectives on the topic. While a few say New Year resolutions make them a new person, others are of the view that they are not effective. Varying age groups offer diverse perspectives reflecting a broad spectrum of opinions.

Sajna S.K., a homemaker, suggests that if one wishes to change, there is no need to wait until the New Year. “The change should be made within ourselves, and the day does not matter,” she says. “People take resolutions hoping to follow them throughout the year, but not everyone sticks to them.”

“I view a resolution as a road to build good new habits and eliminate negativity from life,” says Archana Sujeeth, a high school student, longing for a great year ahead. According to her, a resolution is a fresh start filled with hope for the future.

Meanwhile, twenty-year-old Niranjana K.T. holds a completely different opinion: “I never take a New Year resolution, as I clearly know I will be unable to follow it.” Nofidha K.P. shares a similar perspective. “I do not believe in ‘new year, new me. Life changes every morning, not just on January 1,” the architecture student says.

More than a mere flip of the calendar, the New Year is viewed as the season of aspirations and the pursuit of long-held dreams such as frequent travel. They represent a catalyst for personal reinvention and not just a futile exercise in wishful thinking, says Abdul Gafoor, who quit smoking several years ago.

“Whether you believe in resolutions or not, resolutions can make changes only if you work and wish to change. Unfulfilled goals and dreams from the past year will reach us, guides us to this new chapter,” says M. Irshad, a middle-aged man.