Every time a year approaches its end, individuals make plans and resolutions for the year ahead. However, the Covid-19 outbreak has taught us that everything can change unexpectedly. We can make plans but those plans aren’t guaranteed. Oliva Kageruka spoke to a cross-section of people who shared their views on New Year resolutions in the pandemic era. 

Emma Daniel, Artist

Planning for the year ahead is like any other business; you plan and also prepare for setbacks. I know many things didn’t go as planned but we can still take a chance this year. 2020 and 2021 weren’t favourable years for most of us but we learnt a lot from them and this gives us even more strength and determination to face 2022, not ignoring that Covid-19 is still here. 

Winny Ngonzi, Law student

People should still make resolutions because this is what keeps you focused and moving forward. Of course these are hard times but we must learn to live with Covid-19 effects.

Resolutions make sense but we must draft them with the view that anything can happen, like unexpected lockdowns.

Peter Ndagijimana, IT engineer 

Covid-19 is here to stay but there are many other setbacks, for example, some people keep postponing their goals, and a dream just ends up as a thought. Circumstances have always been there and that shouldn’t be an excuse. Plan accordingly and each time, have Plan A and B so that if one fails, you jump on another. 

Grace Ntihemuka, Business Management and Administration student

You need to have a direction and plan for what you are going to do next. When you have something you are looking forward to, it helps you maintain your discipline. There are many graduates out here who lack jobs or any other occupation. Without a plan to give your life direction in this era of coronavirus, you can end up useless to society. Plan and allow God to manifest in your plans. 

Pretty Kansime, Student 

I think people should still plan because a life with no plan means it won’t have vision and direction. However, one more thing we should plan for is to train our minds to be open and flexible to change because apparently it is the new normal, given the times we are in. Try and find a way of being okay even when things don’t go as planned, otherwise planning is always a must.

Anne Mtegwa, Writer

A resolution helps you have a vision and without a vision, you are like a tree that grows waiting for cutters. We should not stop living our lives because of the coronavirus which is here to challenge us, and that’s why we need to adopt new ways of doing things, according to what we planned. We have seen how, for example, delivery services made money while other businesses closed shop, and that should encourage us to be determined no matter where the world takes us.