Do we always have to change something? About the myth of the New Year.

It is accepted that with the arrival of a new year, we look at the successes and failures of the passing months. It is a time of summaries, analyses, reflections and preparation for the “new start”. This happens not only at the individual level, but also in companies that close the year by evaluating profits and losses. Capitalism also plays a key role in this time machine, which, by producing virtually infinite needs in us, takes advantage of our sense of lack and failure to sell a product or service that promises to change our lives. Even if this simplification does not capture all the complexity of reality, even if we look at the crowded calendars and planners in stores, we feel a certain strange obligation to change. But the question is: is every change really necessary? What not to do right after the New Year? Looking for a new job... One of the New Year's resolutions written on the “wish list” is undoubtedly a change of job. We tend to see it as the most spectacular change — or at least that's how we like to imagine it. A new job, a different salary, an unfamiliar environment... all this can cause a lot of excitement, which in itself is not bad, but even motivating. But how not to be deceived by the over-colored images of next year planned with great fanfare? To begin with, it is worth paying attention to what market research says about changing jobs after the New Year. Although it is often said that the beginning of the year is the ideal time to change jobs, the data show that January is not always conducive to recruitment. Yes, some companies open new processes with new budgets, but at the same time the market is flooded with candidates for whom the “new job” has become a New Year's resolution. Labor market experts point out that increased competition in January may paradoxically reduce the chances of candidates, especially those less prepared. Moreover, the seasonality of recruitment varies depending on the industry, because in many sectors (e.g. education, administration, some IT areas) a greater number of offers appear only in spring or autumn. Labour market research also indicates that the effectiveness of the search is determined not so much by the date in the calendar as by the strategy, the fit to the recruitment cycle and the quality of the application, rather than the symbolic “new beginning” after January 1. So it is better to approach changes with proper preparation and at least an outlined strategy. It is worth answering a few key questions: is the current job overwhelming or unsatisfying enough that changing it requires quick decisions, or can I give myself, for example, a month or two to calmly discern? Isn't there something more priority on my New Year's list than a job change? Will the new career path fit among the other provisions and is the list itself not simply too long? Finally, it is also worth checking whether the change we are planning is due to internal beliefs and real needs, or rather from social pressure and the New Year's narrative about the need for a “new start”. Constancy and Equilibrium vs. Volatility and Flexibility Momentum, development and adaptation are undoubtedly the key features of a dynamic labor market and the modern world. Media and culture often promote a lifestyle based on flexibility, continuous learning (life-long learning) and permanent development, and although this approach can positively affect our competence and well-being, it does not mean that any type of change is automatically good. Psychological research shows that not everything in a person changes easily, and many of his traits and behaviors show significant stability over time. A meta-analysis by Anusic and Schimmack (2016) found that most of the plausible variance in personality traits is due to stable factors (~ 83% of variance), while the influence of variable factors was much smaller, though still present, especially in areas such as self-esteem or subjective well-being (wellnesset). This means that psychological constancy and continuity also play an important role, especially in adulthood, when security and predictability promote the formation of enduring patterns of behavior and a sense of identity. In other words, routine and constancy need not be seen as stagnation—they can be the foundation of a stable identity and good functioning, and constantly leaving the comfort zone without reflection, it can have the opposite effect to what is expected. Psychological stability sometimes protects us from overload and helps to effectively build habits, while consciously planned changes are more real and beneficial than forced by New Year's resolutions. Of course, breaking out of one's own patterns and habits can also be highly developmental and refreshing, as shown by, among others, a study published in Scienza psicologica by Kaitlin Woolley and Ayelet Fishbach (2022). In the experiment, students who were intentionally made to feel uncomfortable during improv exercises were more likely to take risks, study more intensively, and maintain their effort longer than participants in a standard control group. These results suggest that motivation based on risk taking and experiencing novelty can enhance courage and willingness to act. At the same time, it is worth comparing these conclusions with studies that emphasize the importance of stability and continuity - it is precisely the preservation of the balance between change and constancy that can lead to a more orderly and at the same time adaptive functioning. Do New Year's Resolutions Work? The New Year itself does not guarantee permanent changes, and the psychology of New Year's resolutions shows how easy it is to be delighted with the new, and at the same time how fleeting and short-lived this delight can be. While a symbolic date can boost our motivation, the lack of a realistic plan and concrete steps often leads to failure. Psychology emphasizes that real change requires systematic habit building and step-by-step work. It is worth remembering that continuity and stagnation can be just as valuable as spectacular resolutions - lack of change does not have to mean failure.

Another practice that, as it were, forces us to make resolutions is culture, and especially its consumption aspect. Thanks to her, we drive each other to achieve even more. Here it is worth stopping and asking yourself whether “more” does not mean, for example, another course, an exercise kit, a spiritual trip for meditation or a food processor. Even if it seems to us that the thing will serve the development of practice, a short, concrete question “What is this purchase going to get me?” quickly brings us down to earth. Because it happens that what we want to buy does not solve a problem at all, which we can solve much cheaper if we talk about finances and much more difficult when it comes to emotions. And these problems can be seemingly simple things, such as loneliness, lack of support in the work environment or difficult relationships with loved ones.

So for the New Year, we wish you real, wise resolutions that will allow you to develop at the right pace for you. We hope that the coming year will bring you reliable content, changes that open a new perspective and order that will allow you to relax and feel at home!

Sources: 1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26619304/

2.https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/455755-new-year-new-you-the-science-of-reaching-goals/pl? 3.https://www.mp.pl/pacjent/psychiatria/aktualnosci/369947,nie-ma-sensu-czekac-na-nowy-rok

4. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2022/03/leaving-your-comfort-zone-inspires-motivation-growth?