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New Year, Same You: Why New Year’s Resolutions Are Overrated

Let’s stop making resolutions we can’t keep.

Image of fireworks in the shape of '2025' over blue water.
(Image: Shuttershock: Lumikk55)

To be honest, new and trending New Year’s Resolutions are starting to feel overrated. Social media is overwhelming young people with unsustainable ‘new year, new me’ health trends.

Social media is bombarding Gen-Z with New Year’s Resolutions focused around wellness programmes and healthy eating plans. Sometimes it can become all too much when we take in too many resolutions at once. Instead, we should take time to reflect on what we really need in the New Year.

The History of New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions can be dated back 3000 to 4000 years. For example, people would vow to their gods that they would pay off their debts or return what equipment they had borrowed from others. Also, the Romans wanted to enter the new year with a positive mindset. Some Romans swore oaths to their emperor.

So, it seems that we have always been interested in making changes to ourselves every new year. There are many examples of places across the world that have different traditions. For example, in Latin America, families stuffed dolls with memories of the past year and materials. They dressed the doll in clothing they own before setting it on fire at midnight.

In Ireland, many families believe that a clean house sets them up for a fresh start. It is similar in Scotland, where people clean their fireplace to signal a fresh year. Quite differently, in Brazil the people will jump into the ocean wearing white to signal new hopes for the new year.

So, this shows that it is a deeply human need to change habits in the new year.

How Have New Year’s Resolutions Changed?

However, in 2025, it seems as though our priorities have changed—at least for Gen Z. Health and wellness seem to be the main focus of our resolutions now. One example of this is a challenge known as 75 Hard.

This challenge has skyrocketed in popularity on TikTok in the new year. It involves following a diet plan and cutting out alcohol. You also have to do two 45-minute workouts, read ten pages of a book, and drink a gallon of water.

Participants will take progress pictures throughout their challenge. Many people on TikTok are simplifying the challenge into 75 medium or 75 easy.

One TikTok user, @hyroxtrainingdiaries, follows 75 Hard and finds it difficult to balance her work life, home life, training, and the excessive diet challenge. This shows that these trends may be too unsustainable alongside our normal work and social lives. Many New Year challenges and diets are only advertised by influencers who complete the tasks; their struggles and other obligations are not mentioned.

Another Gen-Z Resolution

Another TikTok New Year’s Resolution is to ‘glow up.’ Many TikTok users will follow surreal beauty practices to look better or different in the new year. For example, many people will use mouth tape whilst they are sleeping. This is for their jaws to become more defined. The promotion of mouth tape may make young people question whether their faces fit the stereotypical beauty standards.

Also, there has been an increase in meal inspiration that consists of steak and eggs for a high-protein diet. These meals are unsustainable to eat every day and can negatively affect people’s health rather than improve it.

However, many fitness influencers promote these as healthy go-to meals. If many uninformed young people start eating all the ‘fitness guru’ meals their food monitoring may become obsessive and worsen their mental health.

Alongside this, many girls will use LED face masks to reverse signs of ageing. All of these attempts to ‘glow up’ for the new year are very harmful as they are negatively affecting people’s body image. They also push the idea that you become better due to your physical appearance.

In reality, many of these trends can have negative effects. People can start comparing themselves to others, take on diets they do not know much about, and damage their mental health.

Why Some New Year Resolutions Are Overrated

So, should we abandon entirely New Year’s Resolutions? At the end of the day, it is up to you. If it is a bodily transformation you are yearning for, then a fitness challenge may suit you. However, it is essential to be aware of how many trends there are out there.

Focus on one that makes you feel good. It shouldn’t be an unsustainable January challenge; it should be a challenge that you can continue throughout the year. Try to beat burnout and take small steps rather than do too many fitness challenges or false wellness programmes, as this will overwhelm you.

If you are looking for a personal journey of growth, maybe try some healthier resolutions for your mental health. Ultimately, resolutions are not overrated if you can make long-lasting promises to yourself. Some resolutions can better you as a human being across the year and don’t damage your mental health.

How to Make New, and Better, Resolutions

Instead of being so focused on our bodies our new year’s resolutions should be reflective, positive and personal. Therefore, there are many resolutions that we can make which are healthy for our minds. Here are a few examples:

  • Try to socialise with my friends to boost my happiness.
  • Try to not beat myself up about every mistake I make.
  • Try to create eating habits which are good for my body and my mental health.

There are many more positive and mental health-focused New Year’s Resolutions you can follow. Platforms such as TikTok or Instagram can present an ideal person to be like. However, these platforms present unrealistic images and habits of people. We have to be careful that we do not fall into the trap of constant comparison with others.

If your New Year’s Resolution is simply to have a better relationship with yourself, you are working in a much better direction than any fitness influencers.

Written By

I am a 19 year old University student studying Politics and Philosophy with a passion for writing about anything and everything.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Gina

    January 23, 2025 at 11:27 pm

    Love the reflective, positive and personal message.

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