ItB次元官网网址檚 an annual end-of-year exercise in futility for many. But a clean slate has arrived for the next round of resolutions.

From the first spray of fireworks to the closing chorus of B次元官网网址淎uld Lang SyneB次元官网网址� 366 days into the future B次元官网网址� 2024 is a leap year B次元官网网址� it could be the year for finally achieving long-elusive goals, fulfilling aspirations and being resolute on all those New Year resolutions.

B次元官网网址淎s humans, we are creatures that aspire,B次元官网网址� said Omid Fotuhi, a social psychologist who is a motivation and performance researcher.

B次元官网网址淭he fact that we have goals, the fact that we want to set goals is just a manifestation of that internal and almost universal desire to want to stretch, to want to reach, to want to expand and grow,B次元官网网址� said Fotuhi, the director of learning innovation at Western Governors University Labs and a research associate at the University of Pittsburgh.

B次元官网网址淣ew YearB次元官网网址檚 resolutions are one of those ways in which we do that,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 something very liberating about a fresh start. Imagine starting on a blank canvas. Anything is possible.B次元官网网址�

If so, could this be the year to run a marathon, vanquish (or make peace with) old foes such as the bathroom scale and a thickening waist? Maybe learn Mandarin or register to vote, and actually vote? So many questions, and so much time to delay.

Tim Williams used to issue himself a panoply of resolutions: lose weight, drink less, exercise more and yada yada.

Now, he doesnB次元官网网址檛 bother.

B次元官网网址淚n the past, I would make them, and I would fail or give up on them or whatever,B次元官网网址� said Williams, a part-time resident of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Carla Valeria Silva de Santos, a Florida transplant from Brazil, wants to learn to play the guitar. A native Portuguese speaker, she wants to learn Spanish and improve her English.

With any resolution, she said, the ultimate goal is B次元官网网址渢o improve your life and be in peace with yourself.B次元官网网址�

Josh Moore, another Fort Lauderdale resident, sees things in line with the natural philosopher Sir Isaac Newton and physics. For every action there must be an equal reaction.

B次元官网网址淚f you do something like eat a bunch of candy or a bunch of desserts at a holiday party, go run,B次元官网网址� he said while interrupting a jog with his dog. B次元官网网址淢aybe you went out drinking too much and you might have a hangover. But then next day when youB次元官网网址檙e feeling better, go to the gym.B次元官网网址�

Too many people are too soft on themselves, he posited. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got to actually hold yourself accountable.B次元官网网址�

Resolutions donB次元官网网址檛 have to be big, grandiose or overly ambitious, Fotuhi said.

Even if they are, he said value should not exclusively be derived from the achievement but also be measured by what you become by trying to better yourself.

B次元官网网址淕oals are only there to serve a function to get you started,B次元官网网址� Fotuhi said. B次元官网网址淚f they donB次元官网网址檛 do that, then maybe thatB次元官网网址檚 not the appropriate goal for you.B次元官网网址�

In other words, it is a time to recalibrate goals and expectations, he said, adding that some people hang on to outdated goals for way too long.

B次元官网网址淚f you set a goal thatB次元官网网址檚 overly ambitious, that doesnB次元官网网址檛 have the effect of getting you excited and making you believe that itB次元官网网址檚 possible, then maybe you should think about a goal thatB次元官网网址檚 a little bit more within your reach B次元官网网址� starting with a 5k for instance, then moving up to 10K,B次元官网网址� Fotuhi said.

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