New Year, New Resolutions, New Achievements
It's that time of the year again! Most people will spend their weekends thinking of the new year to come and the new goals they want to achieve. As silly as it is to wait for the beginning of a new year to make goals, this concept has been around for so long that it's become a traditional aspect of celebrating the new year. Habitually, I have jumped on the bandwagon and have written up my new year's resolutions to achieve for the year. But WHY do we do this? Let's explore the origin of new year's resolutions and see how we can keep our own.
WHERE DID THE ACT OF MAKING NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS COME FROM?
This question always brews in my mind during this time of the year and I finally had the chance to sit down and research the answer: New years resolutions originated from religion.
Babylonians were the ones to start the concept of making new year's resolutions about 4,000 years ago. At the time, their new year actually started in March. Their way of making new year's resolutions was making promises to their gods during a 11-12 day celebration called Atiku. If the Babylonians came through with their resolutions, it was believed that their gods would favor them for the year. If the Babylonians fell through with their resolutions, they would not be favored by their gods at all.
Then comes Julius Caesar in 46 B.C., who then moved the first day of the year to January 1st to honor of the Roman god of beginnings, Janus. The Romans began their version of making New Year's resolutions, which was offering their sacrifices to Janus and making promises of good conduct for the year to come.
Finally in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII changed the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, which is our calendar today. Early Christians adopted the idea of the new year being an occasion to think about one’s past mistakes and how to do better in the future by attending a service called "Watch Night Services". They are spent praying and making resolutions for the coming year.
Okay, great information! Now how do I go about keeping my resolutions?
Making new year's resolutions is one thing, but keeping them is a whole new ball game. Most of us have the typical goals:
- Go to the gym more
- Travel more
- Spend more time doing this/that more
- Do more of what you love
- Be happier
Yet, as much as we like our goals, we fail to realize that the act of wanting to obtain our goals has to be greater than the act of physically doing them. We need to stay consistent, we need to have discipline and we need to be patient. Here are some articles I found that have tools that may help you stay on track this year and achieve your new year's resolutions:
Start creating a habit with accountability //
11 Stellar Tools to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions
Jump start your weight loss plans into high gear //
11 of the Best Weightloss Apps of 2016
Stay productive and keep focus //
15 Apps That'll Help You Get Stuff Done
Iron out your hectic schedule and be more punctual //
10 Awesome Productivity Apps to Help Manage Your Hectic Life
Stay positive and look at the brighter things in life //
6 Apps to Keep You in a Positive Mindset
Try new things in your neighborhood & city //
15 Local Happenings Apps That Find You Fun Things to Do This Weekend