Jill’s House: Why not year round New Year’s Resolutions?

I have regularly been going to hot yoga for a few months now as I need something productive to do while my daughter is at school for two hours. And minus travel time, that only leaves me with about 90 minutes to get anything done.

But that class just happens to fit in exactly during her class time means I am rushing into class and rushing out. Hey, at least I am going, right?!

I went back to class this week after being away over the holidays so when I rushed into class my first thought was “holy s*&t!” It was absolutely packed in the room. There had to be at least twice as many people in the room. The instructor had to ask people to squeeze closer to each other in order to make room for more people. I’ve seen this happen on the odd weekend, but never on a weekday mid-morning.

Then it hit me. It’s January. It’s a new year. It’s new year’s resolution time.

While I encourage this new found motivation in people to perhaps try something new, return to something they loved or simply get some exercise, it is a little startling to those of us who don’t really think too much about the new year but end up with a little less space than normal in yoga class.

This is not the first time I have seen this happen and likely not the last, but I will say, what is the point of a new year’s resolution anyway? Why do so many people use the new year to start something new or improve themselves? What is happening the rest of the year?

There is some history about resolutions, but why do we only reflect on our past mistakes and look at ways of self-improving at this time of year?

Maybe I speak for me, because as much as it can be hard to implement sometimes, I am constantly thinking about what I can do better, how I can be better and how, ultimately, I can make my life better. Don’t get me wrong, I know I have a good life, but why not make it even better?! And why wait until January 1 to make those changes?!

I understand the importance of being mentally prepared for something on a certain day. I certainly am like that. I need some processing time to be truly prepared to make a change. But why wait until January 1 when you can start on Monday!?