Every year, most of us make new year resolutions, only to lose it in shuffle by February rolls around. Does it happen to you? What are usual new year resolutions? We all tend to have similar resolutions year after year.
History of New year resolutions:
According to mlive article here , is short history information on New year’s resolutions.
The tradition of the New Year’s Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar. With two faces, looking at the past and future, Janus became the ancient symbol for resolution. Actually, month of January is also named after Janus, the mythical king.
January 1 was always start of a new year and it only became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons of privious years.
It is interesting to note that not every culture or countries celebrates new year around this time but everyone celebrate January 1st as a start of calender year celebration .
Interesting tidbit huh? Also, According to Wikipedia, some of the popular new year’s resolutions are;
- Lose Weight
- Get out of Debt
- Get Organized
- Save Money
- Improve Grades
- Get a Better Job
- Get Fit
- Eat Right
- Get a Better Education
- Drink less Alcohol
- Quit Smoking
- Reduce Stress
- Take a Trip
- Volunteer to Help Others
- Be Less Grumpy
- Be more independent
- Learn something new
Success rates of these resolutions are low 12% of people, which is quite surprising that I fall in 88% of population, by late January. This year, I am making only resolution that I know it will be successful. How so? I have decided to not to have any resolutions this year at all. I have goals instead, such as do less stuff and enjoy more life. I think goals are easier than resolutions, only time will tell it will be a success or not.
Do you have new year’s resolutions? How successful you are keeping those? What strategies works for you?
Zengirl
Image source: Wikipedia
Good luck with the goals, I love the info about resolutions and where it all came from, very informative and fascinating how these traditions have lived on.
Amit,
Thank you. I believe goals will be better compared to usual resolution I do, but only time will tell. I am glad you enjoyed the information.
Thanks for the history on New Year's Resolutions, Zengirl. Very interesting. I'm like you, I try not to make resolutions, but rather to try to improve on areas of my life a little bit every day, all year!
Betsy: Sounds like a great idea of yours to improve little bit every day, all year! We should all do that.