Staying the course with resolutions

The holiday season is steeped in tradition. Many of those traditions are rooted in celebrants’ faith, but one of the last customs people embrace each year is largely secular.

The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions is older than many people may realize. According to History.com, the ancient Babylonians are believed to be the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, beginning roughly 4,000 years ago during a 12-day festival known as Akitu. That festival was religious in nature, but many people now make resolutions aimed at self-improvement unrelated to their faith. As people ponder their resolutions for the year ahead, a few strategies may help them stay the course over the next 12 months.

One effective approach is to give serious thought to a prospective resolution. Statistics regarding New Year’s resolutions vary, but a 2024 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 13 percent of adults polled said they kept none of their resolutions. Numerous variables can affect whether a person follows through, but giving a resolution little thought ahead of time can make success unlikely. Any potential change should be considered carefully before committing. For example, those who aspire to lose weight should identify how they plan to do so by finding a local gym, determining ways to eat a more nutritious diet and, perhaps most importantly, figuring out how to make time to stay the course. A little legwork in advance can pay off in the long run.

Setting periodic goals can also help. Small goals along the way to a larger objective can serve as motivation to keep going. Someone who wants to watch less television and read more might resolve to read 100 pages per week, gradually increasing that total over time. Smaller benchmarks provide a way to measure incremental progress, which can ultimately make achieving a larger goal more likely.

It is also important to be realistic. Goals that are attainable are more likely to be achieved than those that sound good but are too difficult to maintain. For instance, aspiring to exercise for an hour each day may be unrealistic for someone whose work and family obligations leave little time for physical activity. In such cases, expectations should be adjusted in favor of a more achievable goal. Taking on too much can lead to discouragement when obstacles inevitably arise, increasing the likelihood that a resolution will be abandoned altogether.

Finally, people should not go it alone. Many rely on the buddy system to stay motivated with fitness-related resolutions, but that approach can be applied to virtually any goal. Having someone to provide accountability, and offering the same support in return, increases the chances of staying on track.

New Year’s resolutions are an ancient tradition, even if many are abandoned rather quickly. Still, anyone can buck that trend and stay the course by employing a few simple yet effective strategies.

Embark on a path to self-improvement

There is always room to develop, grow and become a better person. With a new year on the horizon, setting self-improvement goals now can help anyone navigate a path toward a better version of themselves.

Here are some New Year’s resolutions that can help people grow and nurture their well-being.

One goal is to focus on improving time management. Feeling rushed or lacking control over how time is

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