It’s that time of the year, folks. 2015 is winding down (*coming to an end*), and we are all eagerly (*excitedly*) waiting for 2016 to arrive. What will happen this next year? What will we do? What will we accomplish? These questions aren’t the big one though. The burning question, and probably the most common small talk conversation starter around this time, “What is your New Year’s Resolution?”

In case you’re not sure of what a New Year’s resolution is, let me fill you in (*give you the details*). A resolution, according to Merriam-Webster Learner’s Dictionary, is a count noun meaning a promise to yourself that you will make a serious effort to do something that you should do. Does this ring a bell (*sound familiar*)? If you’re still not following along, maybe some examples will help you:

This year, in 2016, I am going to…

go to the gym more, eat less sugar, learn a new language, lose weight, go to Yoga, take time for myself, find a foreign language conversation partner, read more, watch less TV, call my family more, take more vacations, learn 10 new vocabulary words a day, improve my grammar, etc.. etc..

Sounding more familiar? I bet by now you are saying,

“YES! I have said some of those things, or heard my aunt “____” say some of those things.”

We can’t avoid thinking about these resolutions and promises, because the information and push (*motivation*) to do make them is everywhere. Throughout today alone, this article popped up in my Facebook feed (why do the Kardashians seem to be (almost literally) everywhere?!), then I saw this one, and this one (<- I will admit this TIME article was interesting ;) ), and even numerous e-mails from others telling me what they’re changing for 2016. I thought, well, enough is enough!

Don’t get me wrong. It’s not a bad thing that we want to improve ourselves, or make “better” choices; however, I think that setting a New Year’s resolution just is not the smartest and most effective way to do it.

Why are New Year’s Resolutions ineffective?

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I'll also tell you what to do instead of NY's resolutions. Don't forget to tell me in the comments about your plan and goals! See you in 2016!

Jennifer