As we enter February, more and more people are already failing their New Year’s resolutions. According to Time, the 10 most commonly broken resolutions include all the most commonly made resolutions. Odds are, if you made a resolution at all, you’ve already broken it. US News and World Report found that, last year, the failure rate was around eighty percent. The highest percentage of failure was from late January to mid-February. 

So how can we keep up our resolutions? Columnist for Inc.com and professional goal coach Marla Tabaka offered advice at the start of last year that still rings true. Her article “Most People Fail to Achieve a New Year’s Resolution…” suggests the issue might be with the resolution itself. 

That resolution to “lose weight” is too large or too scary to approach with any real amount of success. Rather, Tabaka, along with several other coaches, agree that those with a simpler, more specific resolution will achieve it. For example, a resolution to “work on my cardio at least once a week” will be more likely to succeed. 

Melinda Gates, renowned philanthropist and wife of Bill Gates also agrees. She argues that a resolution should be able to be phrased as a single word. In her 2019 article “Why I choose a word of the year,” Gates talks about her idea. Gates writes that she chooses words that encourage character growth. “It makes the year better—and it helps me be better, too.” 

Will this advice help you keep your own New Year’s resolution? Not unless you maintain your own personal commitment to the resolution.  Fortunately, UCM is well equipped to help you and your goals. A good example is the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.

The Center is home to several clubs focused on commitments. From fencing to dancing, getting involved is a huge step toward staying accountable to your resolution. Even if you don’t join a club, the Center has options for the individual. Open courts, a running track, and workout equipment all can help you with your resolution. 

UCM can also help with more academic goals.  The Learning Commons on the third floor of the Kirkpatrick Library is there for your benefit. Personal tutors can guide you through whatever subject you may have resolved to improve on. 

Last year more people gave up on their resolutions in February than any other month. UCM students like you and I don’t have to be part of those numbers. With dedication, we can keep our goals, New Year’s resolutions, and beyond.