Consider This from NPR: For a Happier New Year, Rethink Your Resolutions

Release Date: December 26, 2024
Host: Juana Summers
Guest: Marielle Segueira, Host of NPR's Life Kit
Contributor: Faith Hill, Writer for The Atlantic

As the calendar year draws to a close, Juana Summers and guest Marielle Segueira delve into the age-old tradition of New Year's resolutions, exploring their efficacy, challenges, and alternative approaches to personal growth and self-improvement.

The Allure and Challenges of New Year's Resolutions

The episode opens with Juana Summers setting the stage for the discussion around New Year's resolutions—a time when many feel inspired to embark on self-improvement journeys. Marielle Segueira humorously shares her past resolutions, highlighting their often transient nature:

Marielle Segueira [00:09]: "Resolution number one, obviously, we'll lose £20. Number two, always put last night's pants in the laundry basket... I am going to do one thing I have never done before. That, my friends, is my New Year's resolution."

Juana Summers adds her personal aspiration:

Juana Summers [00:27]: "Mine is to pilot a commercial jet."

However, the hosts acknowledge the common struggle many face in maintaining these resolutions beyond the initial enthusiasm. Marielle reflects on her experiences:

Marielle Segueira [00:56]: "In 2022 when I've tried to make really rigid resolutions in the past, like pretty much done by day three or whatever."

The Complexity of Human Goals

Faith Hill, a writer for The Atlantic, contributes a critical perspective on the structure of New Year's resolutions:

Faith Hill [00:50]: "We don't just like check being a good parent off the list and move on to something else. We struggle our whole lives to live in line with our values and we get better and then we get worse and then better again."

Hill emphasizes that significant life achievements are often ongoing and cannot be neatly compartmentalized into simple resolutions.

Rethinking Resolutions: Intentions Over Goals

Marielle Segueira suggests a shift from rigid resolutions to more flexible intentions. She introduces the concept of breaking down larger goals into manageable tasks:

Marielle Segueira [05:24]: "If you want to eat healthier. Maybe you just start with one thing. Like this year I'm going to try to make a smoothie every morning with a bunch of fruit and vegetable in it."

Referencing Oliver Berkman's approach from his book 4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, she underscores the importance of incremental progress:

Marielle Segueira [05:24]: "Little by little, those things can get you to your bigger goal."

Practical Strategies for Sustainable Change

The conversation shifts to practical advice for those contemplating resolutions. Marielle introduces the idea of accountability partners as a means to stay committed:

Marielle Segueira [03:50]: "Enlist the buddy system... You have a friend who you go to the gym with... but you don't actually have to have the same goals."

This method leverages social commitment to sustain motivation, making goals feel more attainable and less solitary.

Financial Well-being

Addressing financial resolutions, Marielle offers tips that listeners might overlook:

Marielle Segueira [06:48]: "If you have money in a savings account to make sure it's in something called a high yield savings account... There are other banks that'll offer you between 4 and 5% interest."

She also advises on curbing impulse spending through strategic planning:

Marielle Segueira [06:48]: "Make a buy list. Anything that you want to buy, you put on this list and you let it sit there for a week or a month."

Health and Safety

Highlighting the importance of health-related resolutions, Marielle emphasizes life-saving skills like CPR:

Marielle Segueira [06:48]: "If you see someone unresponsive, not breathing first, you're going to call 911... Then, start doing compressions to the beat of the song 'Staying Alive'."

This segment underscores that some resolutions can have profound impacts beyond personal well-being, extending to community safety.

Fun and Enjoyable Resolutions

Shifting the focus from serious aspirations, Juana inquires about more lighthearted and enjoyable resolutions. Marielle responds by advocating for resolutions that enhance daily joy:

Marielle Segueira [09:06]: "A resolution could be, I want to learn how to roller skate or start doing it again, or, I'm going to put lotion on my body every night before bed just because it feels good."

She encourages listeners to prioritize pleasure and personal satisfaction, making self-improvement a delightful endeavor rather than a daunting task.

Embracing Intentions: Marielle's Approach

Marielle Segueira shares her personal approach to intentions for the upcoming year, focusing on flexibility and holistic well-being:

Marielle Segueira [09:56]: "The verbs for me right now are move, play, create, connect, and rest. And I aim to do those every day, if possible, every week, for sure."

This approach allows for continual growth without the pressure of rigid milestones, aligning with the idea that meaningful change is often non-linear.

Juana's Personal Intentions

Juana Summers reflects on her own intentions, emphasizing the importance of intentionality in daily life:

Juana Summers [10:31]: "I really want to get back to being more intentional about, like, what I feed my body. I love cooking. I love eating good food even when I don't cook it."

Her focus is not solely on achieving a particular outcome but on fostering a mindful relationship with everyday choices.

Juana Summers concludes the episode by reiterating the value of thoughtful intentions over conventional resolutions, leaving listeners with a refreshed perspective on entering the new year.

Juana Summers [11:22]: "It's Consider this from NPR. I'm Juana Summers. And Happy New Year."

Produced by: Katherine Fink
Edited by: Jeanette Woods and Meghan Cain
Executive Producer: Sammy Yenigun
Special Thanks to: Marielle Segueira, Host of NPR's Life Kit

By rethinking traditional resolutions and embracing a more intentional and flexible approach, this episode of Consider This offers listeners practical tools and insightful perspectives to foster meaningful and sustainable personal growth in the coming year.