BY FRANKIE VANSICKLE, STAFF WRITER
As we are reaching the end of the year soon, I look back at the beginning of the year which seemed so chaotic to me. When we start the new year, we always try to see our goals. My goals for last year were to be more relaxed and to have fun with life. I did not achieve my goals because I am the most stressed person right now, and I am not having fun with life because of all the stress I have in my life.
In reality, do we ever achieve all the goals that we set for ourselves? Are these goals just a bunch of false expectations? Do you feel better if you make these goals at the beginning of the year, or do you feel you need to because of other pressures for you to make them?
These goals at New Year’s always feel like they are trying to restrict me from what I am wanting to do throughout the year. They change, but you feel restricted to keep those same values and achievements to prove to yourself that you can beat them, but eventually, you don’t achieve what you wanted to achieve.
Personally, I don’t think that should be a thing anymore when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. “Our New Year’s Resolutions” are more like expectations that others have on you and make you think of goals to prove to others that you can do it. Why do we need to prove ourselves to other people when we judge ourselves enough?
In my field of study, we talk about goals that we want our students to achieve based on the material we are trying to teach through standards in our state, where the school is located. I understand goals in that way, but in others, it doesn’t seem to make sense.
Are there other ways to make us believe we can do certain achievements in our lives instead of putting pressure on ourselves? One thing that has really been helping me see the achievements that I want to have for myself is setting myself up with tasks throughout the week.
Tasks, for me, help me get to where I want to be by the end of the week and make me reevaluate my way of thinking about how I want to keep going in my life. Instead of putting so much emphasis on the end of the year, I focus on the end of the week. I write down my tasks for the week, check off what I do and see what I did and how I am feeling about myself at the end of the week.
Doing this has helped my life tremendously going forward and makes me not focus so much on a result at the end of the year. My tasks make me think more about my life, and I don’t let them make me sad and pressured. I don’t feel pressure anymore from others. I do things for myself.
