New Year Resolutions

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

What exactly are New Year Resolutions?

Why do so many people feel the need to make them each year?

More importantly – why do they always seem almost impossible to keep?

New Year Resolutions – Definition

According to Wikipedia –

A New Year Resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. A key element to a New Year Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year and new beginnings. People committing themselves to a New Year Resolution generally plan to do so for the whole following year. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous.

Reasons for Making New Year Resolutions

As for why people make them each year is hard to say except that they tend to be made in anticipation of the New Year bringing new beginnings.

People who commit themselves to New Year Resolutions generally plan to do so for the whole of the following year.

Why Are They So Hard to Keep?

New Year Resolutions tend to be relatively unrealistic and non-specific. Examples would include:

I want to lose weight

as opposed to

I will lose 5kg by ………

Another example would be:

I will start exercising this year

instead of

I will walk at least 30 minutes three times a week starting today

The difference between the two is that the first is too broad and leaves it open to failure where as the second is far more specific and time framed.

Religious Origins

The ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.

The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named.

In the Medieval era, the knights took the “peacock vow” at the end of the Christmas season each year to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry.

At watchnight services, many Christians prepare for the year ahead by praying and making these resolutions.

There are other religious parallels to this tradition. During Judaism’s New Year, Rosh Hashanah, through the High Holidays and culminating in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), one is to reflect upon one’s wrongdoings over the year and both seek and offer forgiveness. People may act similarly during the Catholic fasting period of Lent, though the motive behind this holiday is more of sacrifice than of responsibility, in fact the practice of New Year’s resolutions partially came from the Lenten sacrifices. The concept, regardless of creed, is to reflect upon self-improvement annually.

(Wikipedia)

New Year Resolutions or Goal Setting

Is there any point to waiting until the beginning of a New Year to make changes in your life?

Wouldn’t it be far better to set realistic, short/medium and long term goals regularly throughout the year?

Setting yourself regular, attainable goals is more likely to see you succeed in achieving them and to become motivated to set and achieve more thus changing various factors of your life one step at a time.

Are you going to set yourself unrealistic, non-specific, unachievable New Year Resolutions or will you set yourself realistic, specific and achievable short/medium and long term goals on a regular basis.

Strive for success – make the New Year YOUR year to become the person you want to be.

If anything, make your New Year Resolutions about setting yourself goals and achieving them.