By Hollie Muir
Now we all know that New Year's Resolutions can be hard to decide on or hard to accomplish, but really it doesn’t have to be anything big. Choose something small, achievable and worthwhile
Now we all know that New Year's Resolutions can be hard to decide on or hard to accomplish, but really it doesn’t have to be anything big. Choose something small, achievable and worthwhile
What is a New Year's Resolution?:
A New Year's Resolution is a tradition that a lot of people make to decide firmly on what they are, or are not, going to do the next year: for example, eating more healthily. The decision is usually made on New Year’s Eve or on New Year’s Day. A resolution can come in many forms, but most people decide on something like stopping a bad habit or making a promise to develop a positive habit, it could even be something as simple as smiling more!
A bit of history… Where did New Year's Resolutions originate from?:
New Year's Resolutions started way back in about 153 B.C. Babylonians made promises to their Gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts. The God they paid their debts to was Janus, a God from early Rome. January came from the name Janus as this tradition has been happening for so long. The Romans believed that Janus had two faces, one at the front of his head and one at the back. This allowed him to look back on the past and forward on the future. On December 31st, New Year’s Eve, the Romans imagined Janus looking back on their past of the previous year and looking forward into the next year. This date became a very symbolic time for the Romans to make resolutions, just like we do, for the next year, and forgive each other's enemies and troubles from the past. Since the Romans believed that Janus could forgive them for what they had done wrong they gave gifts and make promises to do good in the next hoping Janus would be watching and bless them for the year ahead.
What were the most popular resolutions last year?:
The top five New Year’s Resolutions in 2016 were:
Stay fit and healthy-37%
Lose weight-32%
Enjoy life to the fullest-28%
Spend less save more-25%
Spend more time with family and friends-19%
These are the most common New Year’s Resolutions from last year but remember, your resolution can be as simple or different as you want. Here are my top 10 ideas for a great
New Year’s Resolution:
1. Spend more time with family and friends
2. Smile more/make kind comments to others
3. Enjoy life
4. Start a journal/diary to record the most memorable things that happen to you
5. Go to places you have never visited before
6. Learn a new language
7. Try a new food each week (especially if you are a fussy eater!)
8. Be accepting
9. Save more money than you spend (it will be worth it in the end!)
10. Get your picture taken in five interesting places
Why make a New Year’s Resolution?:
We all know thinking of a New Year’s Resolution is the hardest part, but hopefully reading this will have encouraged you to start making yours, if you haven’t already, or to have started thinking about what you can do differently. For some people it’s important to improve their life that one little bit but for others, they don’t bother to make one at all. For me, I don’t always make a New Year’s Resolution, but I think that it is a good opportunity to try and start a positive habit in the year ahead as it could improve your mood, in some cases, or just make you enjoy life that little bit more.
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