According to history.com, humans have been setting New Year’s resolutions for some 4,000 years dating all the way back to the ancient Babylonians. Ringing in a new year with celebration and a mindset to make improvements was central to even those early New Years’ celebrations; yet from Forbes to U.S. News and World Report, statistics indicate that most of the resolutions we set in the modern-day are foiled by the end of February.
Why do we place so much emphasis on doing something to which we fail year after year? Psychologists, scholars, researchers and the like suggest that it is because we are bad at making realistic goals.
Since we are bad at setting goals for ourselves, I turned to AI for some help with my resolution this year rather than think one up on my own. AI’s response gave me quite a chuckle. “Lighten up” was its advice. Ironically enough, that phrase has echoed in my ears for years as it is something my parents used to say to me as a kid when I was too wrapped up in one thing or another.
While AI may know me mysteriously well, its recipe for how to achieve its proclaimed New Year’s resolution to “lighten up” is one in which we might all be able to enjoy and find success. I can even weave in AI’s suggestion for “top five food trends of 2025” right along with the ways in which I can accomplish a life that is a little lighter.
AI’s recipe for how to lighten up in 2025
Practice “digital minimalism” while enjoying “functional hydration.” Certainly, I am guilty of the so called “doom scrolling” on social media, binge shopping on Amazon and of never drinking enough water; but I do believe I can achieve this mini goal in 2025 on my way to lightening up. My phone tracks just how much time I am on each of those apps, so I will just set a specific goal, which is the recommendation for actually achieving the goals we set. And while I like seeing posts with pictures of people I don’t see often enough, I am going to enjoy a hot cup of tea from Whimsey Tea to wind down before bed instead of my nightly “thumbs up,” “likes” or “hearts.”
“Laugh more,” and “move more.” I am going to accomplish this goal by trying to incorporate a comedy series into my daily commute and by actually standing at the standing desk I got two years ago for my office. These two little things are just that — little things that AI suggests will help us in our overall mission to lighten up in 2025.
“Delve into experiences,” “rediscover creativity” and enjoy “experiential dining.” These two mini goals as well as the one top food trend are easy for all of us to achieve. Just join us at Lincoln Land Community College during the spring semester for Bistro to Go, Bistro Verde or one of LLCC Community Education’s many culinary offerings that are available. Make a plan to join us with a friend and/or to book at least one class or dinner, and we can check off this mini goal as complete!
Best wishes for a joyous and light 2025 from all of us at LLCC Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts.
About
Lincoln Land Community College offers credit programs in Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management and Baking/Pastry, and non-credit cooking and food classes through LLCC Community Education.
Cooking or food questions? Email epicuriosity101@llcc.edu.