It’s a new month and a new year! We long for a blank slate, a do-over, and so create resolutions for ourselves in hopes of changing an undesirable behavior, accomplishing a goal, or continuing a good practice in order to live a better life. This is what many of us, all over the world, set out for ourselves on January 1st.
How did this once-a-year practice start? According to Wikipedia, the Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus. During medieval times, the knights would take a “peacock vow” to re-affirm their commitment to chivalry. Many Christian churches hold “watchnight” or Covenant Renewal services on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, and during these gatherings build prayers and resolutions into the liturgy. During Judaism’s New Year, Rosh Hashanah, one reflects on one’s wrongdoings over the past year, seek and offer forgiveness, and reflect on self-improvement for the year ahead.
A medieval knight taking a "peacock vow."
Mentions of these New Year’s resolutions can be found as early as 1671 in the diary of religious writer Anne Halkett in Walker’s Hibernian Magazine back in 1802. The complete phrase “new year resolutions” was found in a Boston newspaper on January 1, 1813 which read “And yet, I believe there are multitudes of people, accustomed to receive injunctions of new year resolutions, who will sin all the month of December, with a serious determination of beginning the new year with new resolutions and new behavior, and with the full belief that they shall thus expiate and wipe away all their former faults.”
Do people really make these New Year’s resolutions or is this all hype? Yes they do! At the end of the Great Depression, nearly a quarter of all Americans reported that they follow this tradition. At the start of the 21st century, approximately 40% to 50% joined in.
But just how successful are we? It turns out that 46% of all people who made common New Year’s resolutions were likely to succeed if the resolution is made at the beginning of January, over ten times as many as those that decide to make life changes at other times of the year. The key is to set realistic and specific goals, track your progress, and to avoid setting too many resolutions.
So have you decided what your New Year’s resolutions will be for 2023? Here is a list of some life affirming, life improving, achievable ideas for you. Remember though, just pick a few!
Vow to be more organized this year
Drink more water
Move more, sit less
Make plans to take a mini adventure
Prioritize eco-friendly choices
Volunteer more often
Volunteering can be an activity for the whole family.
Adopt an attitude of gratitude
Send handwritten letters
Spend 5 minutes a day cleaning
Call parents/siblings/grandparents more often
Live simply, consume less
Perfect one recipe
Turn on music instead of the TV
Try something new
Floss every day
Ditch one bad habit
Create a bedtime routine
Get in touch with your creative side
2023 is a great year to rediscover your creativity.
Make time for self-care
Embrace spontaneity
Use To Do Lists
Clean out your inbox
Take a 24-hour break from social media every month
Take time to appreciate your accomplishments
Make coffee at home more often to save money
Start a journal
Clean out your closet
Go meatless on Mondays
Make a new friend
Friendship makes life wonderful.
Keep a notepad next to your bed for ideas that come to you at night
Start your morning with a stretching routine
Practice the do-it-now rule (avoid procrastination)
Double the amount of time you spend outside
Wear sunscreen daily
Put a kit of essentials in your car (jumper cables, blanket, phone charger, etc)
Organize your photos
Delete unused apps on your phone
Put your phone away an hour before bed
Watch documentaries
Send thank-you cards
Lower your daily sugar intake
Read at least one book each month
Get an annual checkup
Balance your checkbook daily
Do an act of kindness weekly
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -Aesop