As the last weeks of December come and fly by and a new year rapidly approaches, many of us begin to think about setting New Year’s resolutions for the coming months. We often tell ourselves things like ‘This is going to be my year!’ or ‘I’m really going to work on this particular goal this 2023. The start of a new year is a time when many people reflect on the past year and set resolutions for the coming one. People often choose resolutions that they hope will make them happier, healthier, or more successful. But what is it about this time each year that makes us strive so much more than any other? Is there something special lurking below the surface that motivates us to hit those goals – and how can we leverage it to make sure our plans don’t fail?
Together we will take an in-depth look at the psychology behind setting New Year’s resolutions and explore some tactics to ensure they’re incorporated into long-term habits instead of short-lived dreams. Let’s get started Babe!
What is a New Years Resolution?
The Nature of New Year’s Resolutions
The most popular New Year’s resolutions are for self improvement (23% of people want to live healthier, 21% want to be happier, 20% want to lose weight, 7% want to exercise, 5% want to quit smoking, and 2% want to cut back on drinking). Furthermore, people resolve to achieve career or job goals (16%) and improve their relationships (11%). Despite their grand plans, only 8% of people will keep their New Year’s resolutions. This is according to a study conducted by the University of Scranton.
The Interesting Brief History Behind New Year’s Resolutions
The ancient Babylonians were forever remembered for the concept of New Year resolutions, a tradition that began some 4,000 years ago. During the 12-day religious festival known as Akitu, which marked the start of their new year, they would make promises to their gods in order to be rewarded with favor or avoid retribution. In other words, making promises to the gods was a way for them to stay in their good graces and ensure protection and prosperity throughout the forthcoming year. The Babylonians also held celebrations in honor of this new beginning – celebrations that would involve pledges of loyalty to their king and a settling of all debt for goods taken on credit. It’s fascinating how modern New Year Resolutions can be traced back to such ancient traditions – a reminder that cultural roots carry on for centuries!
Why do we set New Year’s Resolutions?
There are several psychological reasons why people make resolutions at the start of a new year:
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- Setting goals can help us feel more in control of our lives.
Setting goals gives us a concrete objective that we can strive towards, and the feeling of accomplishment when we achieve them fills us with motivation to continue striving towards them. Making resolutions at the start of a new year also helps provide an organized timeline for reaching those goals; it allows us to set dates to review our progress and makes us accountable for not meeting those deadlines. Ultimately, setting resolutions helps people maintain purpose in their lives and instill productive habits that they may not have developed if they had not taken the initiative at the beginning of the year.
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- New Year’s resolutions can also give us a sense of purpose and motivation.
New Year’s resolutions offer us a unique opportunity to reflect on what we’ve accomplished and where we’d like to be. It encourages us to think about our goals and aspirations, thereby injecting purpose and direction into our lives. By making resolutions, we set ourselves up for success in the coming year with strong intentions and plans that can help propel us forward. It helps to give us structure: something concrete to strive towards and make measurable progress. Making resolutions gives us that extra push to stay focused on our vision of the future self, keeping us motivated as we work to bring in changes throughout the year.
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- New Year’s resolutions can act as catalysts for change.
The beginning of a new year offers hope; an opportunity to start all over again and create a better, brighter future. Within this spirit of optimism, making New Year’s resolutions can act as catalysts for change. It gives people an inspirational goal, a chance to move towards something they want in life. This could be anything from committing to take more exercise or spend more time with family – the personal aspirations of each individual will vary wildly, but they all have one thing in common: they represent signs of optimism that the year ahead will bring new opportunities and possibilities. Making resolutions allows us to shape what kind of person we want to become in the twelve months ahead and gives us motivation to turn our dreams into reality – a worthy endeavor for any hopeful soul!
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- Resolutions allow us to reflect on our past behaviors and make changes if necessary.
It may be a form of self-care or the promise of fresh beginnings that attract us and compel us to start anew. We can seek closure on an eventful year and use reflection as a way to take ownership of our lives. Taking steps to motivate ourselves, even if they sound cliché or superficial, can prove beneficial and help create positive change. This is evidenced by the commonality of New Year’s resolutions – we all understand the importance of progress in self growth. By setting resolutions at the start of a new year, we can challenge ourselves by asking hard questions and inspiring ourselves with achievable goals for the future.
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- Resolutions can act as a means of connection.
Most people have a tendency to make Year’s resolutions with friends and family. This can be beneficial in terms of accountability; we’re part of a group striving towards the same goal, it helps keep us on track. Resolutions also allow us to bond with others over common goals and objectives. It’s an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share our aspirations for, and this collective energy provides us with support and encouragement throughout the year. Ultimately, making Year’s resolutions allows us to feel connected – not just to ourselves, but to those around us as well.
Why do New Year’s Resolutions fail?
Now What? Now that we understand why people love making New Year’s resolutions, Do you ever wonder Why New Year’s Resolutions Often Fail? Find out here:
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- We set unrealistic goals and expectations
- We try to change too many things at once
- We don’t have a clear plan and purpose
- We don’t have enough support from friends and family
- We tend to focus on people’s perception about us rather than how our fulfilled resolution could ultimately benefit us
- We give up easily because it is difficult especially in the beginning
- We forget to celebrate our successes
- We compare ourselves to others without taking into account our individual differences
- Focusing on the negative rather than the positive
- We become too impatient and just want instant results
At this point, you might get stressed, frustrated or overwhelmed but don’t worry Babe because I got you! It’s time for us to TAKE ACTION! Here we go!
How to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolution and Fulfill them?
1. Start with small goals
To start with – take baby steps! Set small goals that are achievable in the short-term and can build upon one another for a larger goal. Make sure your tasks are manageable and rewarding, so you can establish positive reinforcement which will motivate you to move forward.
2. Make it measurable
Let’s face it — New Year’s resolutions can be hard to keep! However, if you break them down into measurable steps and tackle little bits at a time, you can make progress towards your ultimate goal. While finding the motivation can still prove challenging, setting tangible checkpoints will help guide your efforts and give you something to work towards as the days go by.
3. Break it down into manageable steps
It can be easy to get stuck in the planning stage and never actually take any action. If you want to stay on track and make progress on your New Year’s resolution, it’s important to break down your goal into smaller pieces that are easier to manage. This will help you stay motivated and focused, as well as give you a sense of accomplishment when you reach each checkpoint.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and support from family, friends or professionals when needed
Support is essential to achieving any goal, especially if it’s a difficult one. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family, friends or professionals when needed! Having the right people in your corner can make a huge difference and will give you extra motivation to keep going.
5. Celebrate success
It’s essential to celebrate progress and successes, no matter how small. Achieving your goals isn’t just about the destination — it’s about the journey as well! Celebrate all of your little wins along the way, and remember to be kind to yourself if you stumble.
6. Use positive self-talk to keep you motivated
It can be easy to get discouraged when you’re making changes, especially if it’s something that will take a long time. Find positive self-talk mantras that help you stay focused and motivated on your goals, and remind yourself of these statements whenever you feel like giving up.
7.Keep track of your progress with a visual chart, journal or even a simple checklist
Seeing your progress can be a great way to stay motivated. Whether it’s a visual chart or a simple checklist, keeping track of your successes and failures can help you stay on track with your New Year’s resolution.
8. Take time off when needed (and don’t forget to make time for fun!)
Taking regular breaks and setting aside time for yourself is essential for maintaining motivation and focus. Don’t forget to make time for fun activities and relaxation, as these will help keep you energized and motivated on your journey to success.
9. Stay focused on progress instead of perfection
It’s important to remember that perfection is not the goal — progress is! Keeping your focus on making steady improvements, instead of aiming for perfection, will help you stay motivated and keep moving forward.
10. Make your resolutions/goals SMART
SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. This acronym is often used to help people break down their goals into achievable steps. When you make your New Year’s resolutions SMART, it will be easier to stay on track and measure progress. Speaking of SMART GOAL SETTING, I’ll be writing and publishing a separate blog post that will discuss this topic in-depth. This could really be of great help in sticking and fulfilling your Goals in life whatever the season, whether it’s New Year or not so be sure to stay tuned and check it out Babe!
The Bottomline
New Year’s resolutions aren’t a competition — they’re about personal growth! Take your time and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Be proud of yourself for the hard work that you put in everything you do. With the right mindset, determination, commitment and support system in place, you can achieve anything you set your mind to – even if it takes a while! By following these steps, you can make sure that this year is your year! Happy new year Babe, let’s make it one we won’t forget! May all of your resolutions, goals and aspirations come true! Good luck – I believe in you!