Defined, a resolution is a firm decision to do or not to do something.

How was the idea of New Year’s Resolutions born?

The tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates all the way back to 153 B.C. On December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking backward into the old year and forward into the new year. The Romans believed he could forgive them for their wrongdoings in the previous year. They would give gifts and make promises, believing Janus would see this and bless them in the year ahead.

And thus the New Year’s Resolution was born!

Here’s a list of the 7 most common New Year’s resolutions:

1. Improve physical well-being: eat healthy food, lose weight, exercise more, eat better, drink less alcohol, quit smoking, stop biting nails, get rid of old bad habits
2. Get serious about self care: think positive, laugh more often, enjoy life
3. Upgrade finances: get out of debt, save money, make small investments
   Improve career: perform better at current job, get a better job, establish own business
4. The next step in education: improve grades, get a better education, learn something new (such as a foreign language or music), study often, read more books, improve talents
5. Improve self: become more organized, reduce stress, be less grumpy, manage time, be more independent, perhaps watch less television, play fewer sitting-down video games
6. Take a trip
7. Volunteer to help others, practice life skills, use civic virtue, give to charity, volunteer to work part-time in a charity organization

How many suffer Resolution failure?

Setting This Year’s Resolutions

The New Year isn’t meant to be a market for totally changing who you are. It is a time for reflection on identifying small achievable changes that can make a difference in your life – and making promises to achieve them.

Here are some ways to help you beat the percentages and achieve your resolutions

1. Start small. Make resolutions that you think you can keep.
2. Change one behavior at a time. Unhealthy behaviors develop over the course of time.
3. Talk about it. Share your experiences with family and friends. They can hold you accountable.
4. Don’t beat yourself up. Perfection is unattainable but progress is.
5. Ask for support. Goals are always more achievable if they are attempted in secret.

Whether you do or don’t, setting New Year’s Resolutions seems to be a personal thing. A personal choice, a personal challenge and a personal triumph if you succeed.

Do you need to be inspired to set your New Year’s Resolutions? This may help.