Are New Year’s Resolutions the Key to Your Success?
BY READERS DIGEST
10th Jan 2019 Wellbeing
The new year is here and the memes are knocking on our feeds. “New year, new me”, they say. It’s about that time when we decide to make positive changes in our lives. Whether you’ve begun writing goals down, starting to think about some, or still recovering from Christmas lunch; the new year will bring new resolutions. From eating healthy to exercising regularly, the new year is all about bettering yourself.
One way of doing that is getting clued up on the latest health trends. Authoritative websites like Authority Health provide insightful information for improving your wellbeing, and you can click here for more. Checking out their comprehensive articles may help you get a leg up in the new year. Better yet, they will motivate you to start setting some beneficial goals.
Some will stick to their resolutions like the law while others will fail halfway through January. Either way, the very concept is a worldwide phenomenon. But, what made it so popular? Where did New Year’s Resolutions come from? What are some examples? Are they the key to your success? In this article, we will outline all you need to know about New Year’s Resolutions.
A Brief History
New Year’s Resolutions are not a new thing. In fact, the coming of a new year was celebrated approximately 4000 years ago in Babylon. Though, the year looked very different from ours. Their year began towards the end of March. Babylonians held the Akitsu festival - an 11-day celebration for the rebirth of the sun god - during the first new moon after the Spring Equinox. Not only that, but they made promises for the new year. These would guide them towards a fruitful year. These promises became the first signs of New Year’s Resolutions. You can read more here.
Later on, the Romans too honored the new year. Julius Ceaser, along with some of the brightest minds of the time, developed a calendar very similar to the one of today. In this calendar, Ceaser declared January 1st the beginning of the year. On this day, the Romans celebrated Janus, the god of new beginnings.
The Anti-Resolution Trend
While resolutions are such a popular thing today, very few people actually sustain them. Also, there has been a rise in people who disfavor the entire concept. This has formed a sort of Anti-Resolution Trend. From memes to complete disinterest, certain people shy away from even making New Year’s Resolution. This could stem from resentment towards the concept or a belief that they are impossible to stick by. There is no way of knowing for certain as each individual has their own opinion. Either way, resolutions do still exist and people make them despite the fact that so many fail to adhere to them. Let’s take a closer look at some popular choices.
Some Popular Resolutions
- Start saving more money
- Lose weight and exercise regularly
- Stick to a healthy diet
- Be more confident around others
- Give more to others
- Start a new job
- Go on a dream vacation
- Find love
- Stop smoking
- Quit drinking
Do They Work?
No one is the same. Therefore, there is no way of knowing whether a resolution will work or not. A resolution is merely a promise to oneself for the new year. That being said, promises are meant to be kept. If kept, the promise works. Otherwise, it is broken. By at least setting the intention and making resolutions, you prepare your mind for positive change. However, it can be problematic when one puts to much pressure on themselves and sets unrealistic goals. New Year’s Resolutions should not be broad. They should be focused, broken down into smaller achievable goals, and actionable. Making them work will require a lot of hard work, but, everyone is capable of doing so. Especially in spite of the number of people who fail to do so. To make it easier for you, follow a few of these recommendations below.
How to Make Them Work for You
- Write them down clearly, create a plan of action, and track your progress - Making goals measurable, actionable, and timebound will allow you to see real progress. Thus, motivating you to pursue them further.
- Be extremely realistic - Quitting drinking is easier said than done. Start small, simple, and easy. Take your time reaching your New Year’s Resolution goals by completing small steps towards them.
- Surround yourself with support - Let those closest to you know your goals and they will encourage you to pursue them. Let them be hard on you when you reach setbacks and motivate you when you succeed.
These are just a few of the ways in which you can make them work for you. New Year’s Resolutions can be powerful promises for change if you manage to maintain them. That, however, is the hard part. Implementing a few of these tips can allow them to help you improve your overall wellbeing. All the best for your New Year!
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