Happy 2024! Some thoughts on New Year’s Eve a week into the New Year:

Let me start this by saying I had a great New Year’s Eve. It was so festive and fun. All my friends and I got dressed up in sparkly outfits and had champagne, and we counted down to midnight at a bar down the street from my apartment all together. All that being said, now that we’re a little bit older, does anyone else agree New Years is out? 

I have my best New Year’s Eve memories from when I was young at home with my parents watching the ball drop at midnight. We had a tradition where we would make New Year’s Resolutions, eat a yummy meal at home, and watch Dick Clark’s Rockin ‘Eve on TV until the ball dropped (on Eastern Time) and then we would run around the driveway banging pots and pans ringing in the New Year (I don’t know if the last part is a shared memory- did other people do this?) This kind of New Year’s celebration was so fun to me, and I am not ashamed to say I would probably still rather be doing this – and that’s not because I don’t love having a fun night out. But on this particular night, bars are a disaster, expensive, and you can’t hop around as easily as you can on a normal night out. If you think you are being creative with the spot you pick, you are not. Not to mention, Ubers are so expensive, and then you wake up on the first day of the year with a slight headache.

There’s just so much pressure surrounding the night. Everyone wants to look their best, and have big plans, and if you don’t, you’re somehow shamed into having plans anyways because it’s “lame” if you don’t go out on New Year’s Eve. And, do I have to mention the awkwardness of everyone having to kiss someone at the same time? This tradition causes even more pressure because what if there’s no one you want to kiss, or you’re trying to kiss someone, but it’s a first kiss and all your friends are watching??, or what if some creepy guy comes up to you at 11:57 because he thinks since it’s midnight on New Year’s Eve he’ll get to kiss you? I don’t know, maybe I’ll feel different about this tradition when I’m in love and I don’t have to plot out how to either kiss someone or how to avoid a kiss at all costs. 

Also, who came up with New Year’s Resolutions? They are too much stress to put on yourself to be a new you in the new year! I think it is unnecessary and kind of harsh to come up with everything you think you are doing wrong in life, and then how you are going to change to make it better, and THEN to write it all down somewhere you have to see it again in a year when you will probably make similar resolutions again. I agree that it is a good time to look at your life and see what needs a refresh or a change, but it’s not necessary to put all these expectations on yourself that all of a sudden you will be able to workout 5 days a week (when you haven’t done that since high school) or that you won’t drink all of January (when all your friends already have plans for this Friday). Instead of making such a dramatic statement, maybe just take a step back and evaluate why you think those aspects of your life need changing, or do a check-in at the start of each month and see what needs a change. You are setting yourself up for failure by making such sweeping statements and huge goals. I do think there are ways to make New Year’s resolutions that are thoughtful and more than just statements and criticisms of yourself. 

Some fun resolution ideas: I have loved making mood boards for the year ahead. This lets you create an image and put some goals down without criticizing yourself in the process. Also, if there is a resolution you have in mind, try making it something with a “how” and a “why”. For example: I want to journal everyday- I’m sorry, but that’s a terrible resolution, and that’s nearly impossible for the average person (setting yourself up for failure). Alternative: I want to work on understanding my emotions and praying more by journaling when I can because I feel like this is lacking from my life right now – this seems much more practical and beneficial. Just remember to not be too hard on yourself 🙂

I had a great New Year’s Eve with my best friends. It was a fun excuse to dress up, wear sparkles, and be all together. It was festive, everyone at the bar was in a celebratory mood, and we ate grapes under the table at midnight – you can look this up if you’re confused. That being said, should we all just decide to stay in next year (then no one will have FOMO)? We can watch the ball drop on TV, do self care, and wake up feeling fresh for the new year ahead. 

Happy New Year!!