The case for Spring Resolutions (and January Cleaning)

I’m not big on New Year’s Resolutions. Never have been. In part it’s because I dislike the thought of these kinds of ‘fixed date events’. Like, why wait until February 14th to buy flowers for your partner just like literally everybody else? Wow, so original.

The other part is because people tend to not follow through anyway. “Dry January” followed by a massive beer fest in February. Hitting the gym on January 2nd, only to stop going altogether 2 weeks later. So I decided, years ago, I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions.

But these past few days I’ve been thinking about them a bit, as I see people who’ve already failed theirs. Because here’s the thing: January, especially on the Northern Hemisphere, sucks. Bad weather is keeping us indoors and is spoiling our commutes. Add to that the lack of sunlight, winter depression, and the fact that everyone and their mum is getting the flu. There’s no avoiding it.

Spoiler alert: I’ve been down with flu for a couple of days as I’m writing this, and my girlfriend has just joined the flu party as well. Happy days. *cough* *sniff*

The timing is terrible

Let’s forget my personal feelings about ‘fixed date events’ for a bit. Many people clearly need that kind of encouragement (or rather: peer pressure?). But whoever came up with the bright idea that January was the best time to start forging healthier habits either doesn’t live here, or is a sadist. Surely, if you manage to do it it’s very likely to stick, but it’s like immediately playing a new game on ‘hard mode’. Even though I rarely drink and I ride bikes all year around, I have no desire to judge people who hit the gym 4 weeks ago, but have since then failed to keep it up.

All these people probably started motivated and well-intentioned. But then we got snow. And more snow. Weather alarms (‘please stay home unless you enjoy participating in Vehicular Curling’). All while suffering from lack of sunlight, lack of movement, and all news outlets eternally liveblogging how The Man That Didn’t Win The Nobel Peace Prize™ is trying to make Nuclear Gandhi reality in whichever way possible. Only to get flu after another riveting Tuesday in the office.

If you’ve made it through January somewhat healthy and not too depressed: good job. Be kind to yourself.

We should do Spring Resolutions instead

As I said, the timing is terrible, so we should fix that. January might be the start of the new year to many people, but it’s also simply the continuation of the dark and shitty months of Northern Hemisphere winter. Spring is naturally the time for new life, more light, and new energy. Coincidentally the weather tends to be nicer and we’re out of flu season. I can’t vouch for world politics, but we’ll take what we can get. We’re biologically wired to get more active in spring anyway, so why not leverage that? Why not forge healthier habits in a more supportive environment, where the chances of success are much higher? And by November you’ll be settled into your new habits and routines, and it’ll be way easier to make it through winter without losing it all again.

… and January Cleaning

Spring is for getting healthier, getting outside, getting fit. Going through boxes of old crap or cleaning out the garage… now that’s something you can do on a cold and dark January day. And order pizza after.