Your New Year’s Resolutions

So here we are a few days into the New Year. Happy New Year by the way! Maybe you have had a wonderful start to the year, or maybe not. Maybe you made New Year Resolutions (and for the time being are still sticking to them), or maybe not. Maybe you love the month of January, or maybe not. Whatever your situation may be, the truth is that January 2012 is upon us.

January was established as the first month of the year by the Roman calendar. It was named after the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances, Janus (Latin word for door). Janus had two faces which allowed him to look forward at the New Year and back into the past at the same time. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.

January is that time of year when people make resolutions and seem to be full of good intentions, but as they say, “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Some feel that resolutions give them hope. They represent the opportunity to do or become what they haven’t yet managed to achieve. Others may see resolutions as an excuse, in the sense that they represent a statement of intention rather than an actual goal.

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Here is a list of the most common resolutions made

Top 10 Popular New Year Resolutions for 2012

1. Lose Weight
2. Getting Organized
3. Spend Less, Save More
4. Enjoy Life to the Fullest
5. Staying Fit and Healthy
6. Learn Something Exciting
7. Quit Smoking
8. Help Others in Their Dreams
9. Fall in Love
10. Spend More Time with Family

Source: University of Scranton. Journal of Clinical Psychology on Statistic Brain.

Regardless of your thoughts on New Year’s resolutions, whether you made them or not, now, today is as good as time as ever to achieve the things you want to and be who you Aim to Be. In order to stick to the promises you make yourself, here are 3 simple suggestions:

1. Be Realistic

Just like with other goals, give yourself small targets as well as long term goals. Work on achieving your goal step by step to keep you motivated and increase the possibility of achieving it. Imagine yourself actually achieving your goal (this will help you see if it is possible or needs a little tweaking).

2. Be Specific

People tend to be general about their intentions which makes it difficult to measure. (If you don’t know where you’re going how will you know when you get there?) Take the above Top 10 list for example. Say you want to lose weight, how much weight? What does being more organised mean? What does it look like? Spend and save how much more? What does it mean to enjoy life to the fullest? How will you know whether you are fit and healthy? And so on. By being specific you know where you’re going and how you’re doing.

3. Reward Yourself

Give yourself (figurative) carrots along the way. Most of us tend to find the stick approach much easier to use on ourselves. Make sure you remind yourself how far you have come and what you have done rather than what is yet to do. Celebrate achievements however small they may appear as this means you are a step closer to your goal.

Make sure your resolutions don’t end up in the bin of good intentions; make them things you will actually achieve.

Three cheers to a wonderful year ahead!

What are your thoughts on New Years resolutions?

Did you know that the tradition of setting New Year’s resolutions dates back to the ancient Babylonians? Their most common resolution was to return used farm equipment. Click Here for more Facts, Figures & Folklore About New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day.

Image by Flickr user Cyber Toon.

One Response to “Your New Year’s Resolutions”

1. Johnny "Hollywood" Rotnem says:

   January 12, 2012 at 10:34 am

   Great post Ana. I believe my resolution should be to aspire to be an inspiration to others just as you are.
   I have gained so much over the past 2 years from your words and posts and they have helped me achieve a higher level.
   Now I must apply myself as you said in your post and set solid achievable goals, so that I may be a better example for others.
   Thank you for your guidance. You are the Best!
   Cheers, Smiles, Love, Laughs and Success,
   Johnny “Hollywood” Rotnem

   Reply