Are you one of the majority of Americans who make one or more New Year’s resolutions? And then are you one of the few who actually follow through and keep them?
Making resolutions at the beginning of a new year is nothing new. According to Dr. Candida Moss, a professor of theology and religion at the University of Birmingham, the practice can be traced back 3,000 to 4,000 years ago to the ancient. Babylonian festival of Akitu, celebrated in April.
“Like many ancient New Year’s festivals, Akitu lauded creation and fertility on both an agricultural and cosmic scale,” Dr. Moss said.
At the festival people gathered to marvel at the wonders of creation and the victory of murderous, bloody order over chaos. And it was at this festival that Babylonians engaged in the first form of New Year’s resolutions, party to placate temperamental gods – such as vowing to pay off debts or by returning borrowed farm equipment.
And according to Dr. Louisa McKenzie, an art historian and associate fellow at the Warburg Institute in London, the Romans did not use the term “resolution” but they tried to enter the new year with a positive mindset, as recorded by the Roman poet Ovid in “Fasti.”
The Romans also exchanged gifts of figs and honey or other foodstuffs that represented prosperity.
There are customs throughout the world that represent a new beginning with the new year. In Ireland, having a clean house at the start of the year symbolizes a fresh start. In Colombia, Ecuador and other parts of Latin America, there is a figurative burning of the Año Viejo. Families stuff a life-size male doll with memories of the outgoing year and dress it in their clothing before setting the doll on fire at midnight.
One of the earliest surviving written references to a New Year’s resolution was found in the diary of Anne Halkett, a Scottish memoirist and writer of religious texts. “On Jan. 2, 1671,” according to McKenzie, “she made a note of her intentions for the coming year under the heading ‘resolutions.’”
By the 19th century, mentions of resolutions were appearing in newspaper and magazine articles and cartoons, often referencing people’s failure to maintain them.
The top 5 resolutions
The most common New Year’s resolutions today are:
- Save more money
- Eat healthier
- Exercise more
- Lose weight
- Spend more time with family and friends
- Quit smoking
Resolutions you just might keep
According to an article in Good Housekeeping, the “key to setting good goals in making them aspirational and yet attainable at the same time – something you want to work toward and you can honestly see yourself achieving.”
The article goes on to list 65 resolutions you might actually keep. Topping the list is “start a gratitude journal.”
The Top 10 goes on: make time for family; create a budget you can stick to; be more mindful; cook new foods; read more books; add cleaning tasks to your calendar; cut back on alcohol; make dinner easier; and prioritize sleep.
“Join a club” is one you might not expect but “quit smoking” is.
Some of other unexpected resolutions are “learn to love vegetables,” “exercise your brain” and “plan a vacation.”
As the article notes, “Choosing a resolution that’s too big or one that requires a big overhaul of your daily routine will only set you up for frustration and failure.”
And, it adds, “It’s smart to pick a goal that can be broken down into a clear step-by-step process to conquer it. When you can take small steps, the task ahead isn’t so daunting and challenges are much easier to overcome.”
So, what are your resolutions? And what are you doing to ensure your success?
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