With each turn of the New Year, millions upon millions of Americans set resolutions aimed at living a healthier lifestyle while others think setting them is a waste of time.
The actual origin of the New Year’s resolution began with customs and practices to ward off barren winters and ensure fertile springs.
MSU doctoral intern in counseling Debra Leggett said that setting a resolution is like the feeling that comes with the spring season-it is a fresh start. Leggett suggests that it is healthy to set a resolution.
“Statistically, people who have goals make more progress than people who do not have goals,” Leggett said. “I’ve never seen any research specifically on New Year’s resolutions; I really don’t think there is a down side to goal setting.”
The MSU Counseling Center offers classes that teach students to set study skill goals, which is among MSU student’s top five resolutions. Leggett mentions several different goals that people set such as, weight loss to resolving conflicts and creating better relationship skills.
“My New Year’s resolution is to spend more time with my family and to be a better mom,” Perry Cafeteria manager Lynn Berch said. “I would hope that a lot of people would put their families first.”
“I like (resolutions) because you get to re-evaluate the year before and try to do stuff better,” Student Associate Vice President Sara Peters said. Peters has resolved to go to class more, be a better Christian and get in shape.
“Looking in the Sanderson Center after New Year’s, it’s kind of funny because there are so many people in there, and after two weeks they won’t be there,” Peters said.
If fitness is your resolution, MSU physical therapist Kevin Randall suggests sticking to your exercise routine and not to expect instant results.
“Start slowly. A lot of times people set a goal, and they forget that you have to work to reach that goal, and you have to work your way up,” Randall said.
If you are working to gain muscle mass as a beginner, Randall suggests starting out with lower intensity exercises and more repetitions with lighter weights. As your workout goes along, increase the weights and have fewer repetitions.
Physical therapist assistant Jody Bennett, also known as Buzz, said that all exercise is not limited to machines.
“The Sanderson Center has rock climbing walls, swimming, racquetball and so much more that can be an exercise, and it makes exercise so much easier and fun when you want to go in and do something,” Buzz said.
Health center nutritionists say it is hard for college students to eat healthy when constantly tempted by fast food. They suggest ordering pizza with extra vegetables rather than extra cheese. Avoid sausage, salami or other fatty meat toppings. If you eat less healthy with certain friends, eat more carefully when you are not with them. Eat foods high in complex carbohydrates (whole grains, pasta, beans, rice, etc.) The fiber included in these is non-caloric, makes you full and is great for your body’s system.
Some MSU students find the idea of resolutions as being simply a waste of time.
“What’s the point of making a (resolution) on (New Year’s Day) and just that day? Why not June 3?” senior anthropology major Evelyn Brown said. “I never make them because I always break them.”
“I didn’t make any New Year’s resolutions; I really didn’t think about it much and didn’t have anything to resolve,” freshman computer science major Dennon McMillan said.
Among the 25 MSU students interviewed who made resolutions, the top three goals were: lose weight/get in better shape, make better grades and stop smoking.
Students estimate that 15 percent of those who made resolutions will actually stick to them. Whatever your resolution- remembering to pay the parking meter, eating out less, study harder, losing weight or even being a more productive person-good luck.