When you mention New Year’s resolutions, you are often met with either passionate hatred toward the idea of changing one’s self for a new year. New Year’s Resolutions are the reason the gym gets super packed for the month of January, then the excitement dies down. According to History.com, the ancient Babylonians were the first to make New Year’s resolutions, and they made them to the gods. Romans also made promises to one of their gods, Janis for New Year’s. Clearly making promises in a new year, whether to the gods or to oneself is not a new practice. New Year’s resolutions have religious roots, but today many people use the occasion to try and start fresh, and work on areas in their lives they find problematic.
There’s nothing wrong with making New Year’s resolutions, if that’s your thing. According to a poll on the Star F.M. Facebook page, created December 28th, only 17 percent of the people who responded said they made resolutions, while 83 percent say they do not. Why are New Year’s resolutions appealing to people who do make them? I think there is something significant about a completely new year, that we can convince ourselves it is a fresh start, and that’s kind of cool! Especially this year as we say goodbye to the 2010s and welcome in the 2020s.
If you decide to make some New Year’s resolutions, here are a few tips to help you succeed in them: 1. Make them small, achievable goals that are realistic. It is better to make 10 small goals or resolutions than to make 2 giant ones. Break them up into smaller steps. 2. Post them somewhere in your living space so that you see them every day. That will help you stay on track. 3. Have a reason why you are making that resolution/goal. If you have a reason that means a lot to you it will make it easier to follow. Maybe even include your reason on the resolution. I want to do X because……. 4. Don’t hate on yourself. Make positive resolutions to improve your life, not ones that make you feel negatively about yourself. Getting healthier, eating good food, helping the planet, volunteering more, saving money. Focus on where you want to be a year from now, not where you think you should or have to be.
Hate resolutions? That’s cool. Maybe you are in a good place right now, or maybe you think they are just doomed to fail. Either way, if you hate them don’t make any, but try not to hate on people who do.
By the time this issue of the Quill comes out, New Year’s will be over, and maybe you’ve already set some goals for 2020. Or maybe you think you are perfect just the way you are! Either way, I wish you a happy 2020!