The winter season is all about recognizing traditions, from cherished holiday celebrations to setting New Year’s resolutions. However, for many people, New Year’s resolutions are surrounded by a familiar pattern. You might start out strong working towards your goal, but quickly lose steam and fall right back into old habits. This isn’t uncommon. Only about 36% of people who set New Year’s resolutions stick with them past the first month of the year. So, why do so many people continue to set resolutions only to break them by February? Quite simply, people are quick to follow traditions, but that doesn’t always mean following through. In 2023, make your New Year’s goals count by establishing your own traditions that you can look forward to year after year.
A Closer Look at New Year’s Resolutions
You might wonder where the idea of New Year’s resolutions came from in the first place. They have quite a long history, dating back at least 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians. Back then, however, the year began in mid-March when crops were planted. During a 12-day ceremony, the Babylonians would reaffirm their loyalty to the king and make promises to their gods to pay their debts and return objects they had borrowed in exchange for good favor throughout the coming year.
When Julius Caesar altered the calendar and made January the start of the new year, promises of good behavior and sacrifices to the gods remained part of the New Year’s tradition. Early Christians upheld the tradition of reflection and prayer in the New Year. Over time, the practice of resolutions has broken away from its religious roots and become a primarily secular practice wherein people make promises to themselves to improve their health, financial status, or other aspects of their lives. The most popular New Year’s goals for 2023 included:
- Improve mental health
- Improve fitness
- Lose weight
- Improve diet
- Improve finances
Rethinking Your Goals
Setting a single, high-stakes goal for the New Year can be a recipe for failure. Instead, it’s helpful to focus on smaller, more manageable changes in your life to contribute to your bigger picture goals. For example, if you want to lose weight, avoid focusing on how many pounds you’d like to lose by a certain date. Shift your focus towards individual actions that will help you lose weight gradually. For example, create a goal for a number of steps you’d like to walk each week, increasing that number over time. You might also strive to cook more meals at home, try unfamiliar healthy foods, or reduce the number of times you eat fast food in a week. By creating smaller goals of this nature, you can easily get back on track if you are derailed and set yourself up for long-term success.
Establishing Your Own Traditions for the New Year
Along with rethinking how you set goals in the New Year, it’s also worth establishing some of your own New Year’s traditions. Below are some ideas for new traditions that take the pressure away from achieving goals and allow more room to simply enjoy life and feel refreshed to take on the next year of your life.
- Set Aside Time for Self-Care – During the holidays, there is so much emphasis on thinking about everyone else, we might lose sight of ourselves. Therefore, January should be your month to reinvest in your self-care. Set aside time to be alone and relax. This might include spending time in nature, meditating, taking a hot bath, or getting a massage—whatever you’re doing, it should be all about making time for you.
- Check in on Your Health – The passing of another year is a great reminder to check in on your health. Schedule your annual physical, make an appointment with your dentist, and consider how you’re feeling in your daily life. If your mental health is struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out for an appointment with a therapist.
- Try Something New – Make a point to try out something new each year, whether it’s learning a new hobby, visiting a place you’ve never been before, eating a new food, or trying out a new fitness routine. Striving to continually grow and explore new things can help you open your mind, expand your interests, and discover new sources of joy in your life.
Reach Out to Integrated Behavioral Health to Achieve Your Goals in 2023
In the New Year, it’s important to remember that you don’t have to do everything on your own. It is okay to ask for help when you need it and seek professional care if you are feeling anxious, depressed, or simply lost. Integrated Behavioral Health can help you find the road back to you in 2023. Take the first step by requesting an appointment on our website.