Ahh New Year’s eve. I love this time of year. The opportunity to start fresh, end old habits and start new ones. Enter the New Year’s Resolution.
Where did the New Year’s resolution start?
It is said to have been the ancient Babylonians that began the art of making New Year’s resolutions. This was about 4,000 years ago. However, they celebrated their new year in mid-March to align with the planting of their crops rather than in January. During Akitu, which was a 12-day religious festival, they would select a new king to crown or continue to pledge their loyalty to the reigning king. They made New Year resolutions to the gods to pay their debts and return any objects that they borrowed. Back then the consequences for not following through with the resolutions were a tad bit more severe than they are now. If they kept their word, they would have favor bestowed on them by the gods for the coming year. If they did not keep their word…they would fall out of the gods’ favor.
Fast forward to the 1700’s, John Wesley, founder of Methodism began the Covenant Renewal Service which was held on New Year’s Eve or Day and is also called Watch Night. It was time spent reading scriptures, singing hymns and making resolutions for the coming year.
How to make sustainable New Year’s resolutions?
Starting and giving up o a New Years resolution is quite common. In fact, 68% of people will give up on their New Year’s resolution before February rolls around and only 1 in 7 people believe that they will actually follow through with their resolution.
I think it is very important to not give your New Year’s resolution so much power and weight. We get very discouraged if we do not follow our resolutions to the tee and any sign of failure results in us giving up on it completing. Its an all or nothing mentality and that is not sustainable.
1.See the big picture
Decide on a large, year-long goal that you want to accomplish by the end of 2023. From there, work backwards to make small, micro-goals that you can works towards achieving each month.
For example, do you want to stop eating processed foods? Don’t start cutting out all processed food on January 1st. Instead, start by creating the goal of : ‘By the end of 2023 I would like to have eliminated most of the processed foods out of my diet. In January, I will eat 3 servings of veggies a day. In February I will only eat out 1 time a week. etc. etc.’
2. Be kind to yourself
You wanted to lose 5 pounds this month but only lost 2? Don’t beat yourself up over it and throw in the towel. Focus on the positive! Think of all the amazing and great things your body has helped you accomplish that month. Thank yourself and keep moving. Although you didn’t lose the 5 pounds that you wanted your body did some amazing things for you. Now focus on February and your goals for that month.
3. Find a buddy
You want to run a 5k by the end of 2023. Find someone else that wants to also begin running and plan weekly or bi-weekly walk/runs.
You have decided you want to learn to cook. Connect with a friend or relative who wants to learn to cook as well and you can take classes together. You can also find someone who is a cook who would love to teach you.
My new years resolution?
I am still mulling over what I want 2022 to look like! I will share with you all once I have nailed down my resolutions!
YOUR TURN!
What are your resolutions for this year?
Do you find it hard to stick to a resolution?
