Keeping New Year’s Resolutions

Celebrating a New Year is a tradition that can be found throughout a variety of cultures. A new year is a natural time for us to reflect on the year that has passed, and resolve to make changes that will improve our lives.

Fun fact: The Babylonians would celebrate the New Year for 11 days straight, starting on the vernal equinox. A common resolution for this agricultural based society was the returning of borrowed farm equipment.

When considering the seasons, celebrating the New Year in early January makes sense for most of North America. The active harvest season has passed, and the holiday chaos is coming to a close. Though, this isn’t the same for everyone. The start of spring marks Persian New Year, and Jewish New Year is in September.

No matter when the new year is celebrated, marking this important time on the calendar also means marking a time for change, growth, and possibility.

What Are Resolutions?

A resolution is a firm decision to do or not do something (Yoda anyone). It’s the commitment to finding a solution.

This terminology has often burned people in the past. So if you find yourself repelled by the idea of setting a “resolution,” simply change the term to “intention,” or “goal.” In the end, it’s about reflecting on behaviors, recognizing them, and creating lifestyle changes to resolve anything displeasing or no longer useful.

Making A Resolution

When developing your resolutions, it can often feel overwhelming. There are so many things you want to improve! Instead of going full force, and possibly crashing and burning, take these steps instead:

1. REFLECT: Carve out time in your schedule to reflect on your resolution. It could be in the morning while you sip your morning coffee, or in the evening when the children are asleep, or during your lunch break at work. Whenever it is, make sure you’ll have about fifteen minutes of focused, uninterrupted time.

2. EMPLOY SIMPLICITY: Choose short term resolutions. Don’t create grand, overwhelming lists. Instead focus on one or two things that you want to achieve. This way you prevent yourself from feeling overwhelmed and giving up.

3. COMMIT: Pick a resolution that you want to truly commit to. Don’t choose something you think you should do, or something someone else told you to. Choose something you want to do.

4. THINK “ACHIEVABLE”: During the New Year it can be tempting to make overreaching goals, such as “becoming rich and retiring at 30,” when you’re 29. These unrealistic expectations are our negative behaviors setting us up for failure and allowing us to keep the universal mindset that “nothing goes my way.” Instead, focus on the meaning of this overreaching goal (having money) and resolve to save an extra $100 a month (or whatever fits in your budget).

5. CHOOSE SOMETHING RELEVANT: Choose a resolution that is appropriate to your situation in general. Don’t make a decision out of remorse, as these goals don’t last long. Love yourself, and make a realistic goal that actually fits you and your needs.

6. BE SPECIFIC: Once you’ve found your resolutions, you should then write them down as clearly and concisely as possible. For example, don’t put “I want to lose weight,” as this is too vague. A more specific resolution would be “I will lose five pounds in the next two months.”—That’s going to be more effective.

7. MAKE THEM MEASURABLE: When you choose your resolution, also make sure it can be appraised. This allows you to keep track of your progress. If you want to stop biting your nails in 30 days, then you can measure your progress by taking photos and journaling. Any way that will allow you to keep track of your intentions will make it easier to achieve them.

8. CONSIDER TIME: When developing your resolution, make sure it is near-future oriented. If it is obtainable within a few months, then it’s a good resolution. If it’s obtainable in a lifetime, then it isn’t a resolution (it would be a way of life).

9. SCHEDULE: Carve out time in your schedule to work on your resolution. When the decision is made that certain times are dedicated to you achieving your goal, it’s a lot easier to achieve it.

10. ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS: Finally, create a short list of diversions that you expect to experience along the way. Say you’re looking to eat healthier. Jot down the names of peers who are bad influences on your eating habits, the routes to work that lead to too many sweets shops, and the upcoming celebrations which will encourage overindulgence. This awareness will allow you to map out a plan of action when the time comes.

Keeping A Resolution

Once you start down the path of working toward your resolution, you may find it has become overbearing, and not inspiring. If so: pause, reflect, and reassess! Unhealthy behaviors take years to develop. It’s perfectly normal for an approach to fail the first time. Taking a step back is still okay. This does not mean you failed, it means the resolution wasn’t a good fit. Try a different approach. Though reassessing a resolution may not be easy, it should not be spirit breaking. Analyze your goal. Was it too big? Narrow your scope of focus, alter it, and begin anew.

Some changes may even mean adopting a tool to assist you. Tools can be objects, people, or places that make reaching your goal more accessible. For example: “My resolution is to arrive to work on time every day for the next week. I will do this by setting an alarm on my phone with a 15-minute reminder in the morning. I will also enlist the help of a friend who will call me 5 minutes before I have to leave.”

Whether you resolve to return borrowed farm equipment or to shed a few pounds, it’s important to remember that we are tapping into an ancient longing for a fresh start. Let this powerful, universal urge to grow help you navigate your resolutions this New Year.

What are your New Year’s resolutions? Did you follow any tips? Tell me in the comments section below!

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