Despite starting every New Year with promises to quit drinking, smoking, womanising and other social vices, many Nigerians return to their old ways within a matter of days or weeks after making New Year resolutions. PAUL OKAH in this report speaks with a cross-section of Nigerians.
At the beginning of every year, many Nigerians make New Year resolutions, including what they would do or avoid to have a better year compared to the preceding or previous years.
While some resolve to quit drinking, smoking, womanising, getting into debts or other social vices, others resolve not to take impulsive decisions or to do everything to steer clear of trouble and live an upright life.
Interestingly, just a few days/weeks into the New Year, many Nigerians have disappointingly gone back to their old ways, thus making a mess of their New Year resolutions for various reasons.
Indiscipline
Investigations by Blueprint Weekend revealed that indiscipline is the major reason many Nigerians hardly stick to their new year resolutions as many are not committed to seeing things through.
Speaking with this reporter, a businessman in Abuja, Thomas Okorie, said that, like in previous years, he made the resolution to quit smoking this year, but has not been able to do so.
He said, “At the end of every year, I make a resolution to quit smoking at the beginning of a new year, but I have never been able to achieve that feat for over a decade now. I have tried my best, but I think I can put it down to indiscipline on my part. Oftentimes, I struggle for days, but I always find myself resuming smoking almost as immediately as I made the decision to quit.
“I started smoking way back in my secondary school over 30 years ago. It has been quite a struggle for years now because I have been trying my best to fight the addiction. I know it’s dangerous to my health, but I can’t just bring myself to quit. Funnily enough, there are warnings on cigarette packs to the effect that smoking is dangerous to health and damages lungs. But it seems the more the warning, the more I am attracted to smoking.
“I made the resolution two weeks ago to quit smoking this new year, but it lasted for just a few days. I found myself back in the habit when I attended a social function and met old time friends deep into the smoking business and had to fall in step with them to catch up. So, it boils down to indiscipline on my part. I hope I will overcome it one day as I am spending a lot and risking my health.”
Gossip, social media addiction
For Ruth Nwachukwu, her greatest desire has been to avoid gossip and social media addiction, saying she landed into trouble for spreading false information about someone being HIV positive.
“The habit I want to overcome this New Year is that of gossip and not minding my business. It has really cost me a lot as I have gotten into trouble with many people in the past because of gossip. I have made the same resolution in the past, but they didn’t work out, but I really want to overcome the habit this year because of the consequences.
“Like I said before, not minding my business and gossiping about people has really put me into trouble. There was a time I heard that a particular girl was HIV positive and had to tell people about it. It eventually got to the lady, who traced the news to me and forced me to prove it. I was detained at the police station and mandated by the chief of my community to walk round the village with a gong to tell people that I lied. It was a great humiliation to me.
“The major issue is that I hear a lot of things in my line of business as a make-up artist and hair stylist. A customer will just come and one thing will lead to our swapping gist, whether true or not. So, it’s something I don’t want to continue with if I can help it.
“Another thing I will gladly give up is addiction to social media. The first thing I do after waking up each day is usually to reach for my phone to check Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms for trending gist even before praying. It is an addiction I want to stop by the grace of God. I don’t think I am getting anything from them except unnecessary distractions,” she said.
Consistency issues
On his part, a civil servant, Haruna Musa, said the lack of moral will and consistency are the major reasons he has not been able to stick to New Year resolutions, year in, year out.
“This thing called New Year’s resolution does not work for me! I mean, I have tried it several times in the past, but I am not consistent. Every year, I set a target for myself to achieve one thing or the other or to overcome one thing or the other, but I still find myself doing the same thing. I’m never consistent with anything, which is why I don’t bother myself much again.
“Last year, I made the resolution to quit smoking and being so short tempered, but I only succeeded for one week and went back to it shortly after. So, consistency is a major issue to me. I get angry easily and I know it’s a major problem. I have lost many friends, especially women, because I am not always tolerant. I have tried my best to work on the two issues, but I have not been able to overcome them.
“Nevertheless, I don’t envy those who achieve their New Year resolutions. It takes a lot of courage to overcome challenges and to achieve targets one set for himself. I will one day make a resolution that is achievable. For now, New Year resolutions don’t work for me. It’s a complete waste of time to me because something must happen in between for me to be derailed or put off without achieving my target or plans,” he said.
Expert’s admonitions
Speaking with Blueprint Weekend, a psychologist, Mathias Adegbenro, said Nigerians can achieve New Year resolutions with total commitment and self control.
He said, “The major reason many Nigerians don’t keep to New Year resolutions is because of lack of dedication and lack of self control. You can call it indiscipline or lack of moral will, if you like. However, it’s generally due to lack of commitment that people make promises or assurances they cannot keep in the name of new year resolutions.
“Take note that a New Year’s resolution is usually made because someone discovered he or she is not comfortable with something happening in his or her life. For instance, someone may be a notorious womaniser, a chain smoker, a drunk, petty thieves, unrepentant liar, gossip, cheat, procrastinator, heavy spender, bully and what have you.
“Having seen that it is a negative trend to him or her, someone will take it upon himself or herself to change the lifestyle by deciding he or she will not take the habit into the next year, hence the person will make what is now known as New Year resolution. However, adhering to the resolution becomes another problem because, many times, people rush to make resolutions without taking into account different factors.
“I also want to point out that it is not a must to make a New Year resolution or even wait until it is a new year before making a resolution to change what you don’t find comfortable about your life. Some people put themselves under immense pressure by making New Year resolutions they cannot keep. First, you have to look at your mental disposition and the circumstances surrounding your peculiar situation, which prompted you to make the resolution in the first place.
“If you want to quit smoking, drinking or womanising, have you considered avoiding the places, people or things that always trigger the urge for you to smoke, drink or womanise? This is important as many people often get carried away by situations or circumstances. Whatever you want to do with your life, start it with determination. You won’t achieve anything without first putting your mind to it.”
