The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays, first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In 153 BC the Roman senate declared January 1 to be the beginning of the New Year. If you are determined to keep this years promises to yourself, Miranda tells you how….
The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays, first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In 153 BC the Roman senate declared January 1 to be the beginning of the New Year. Traditions of the season include the making of New Year's resolutions, which also dates back to the early Babylonians. Popular modern resolutions might include the promise to lose weight or quit smoking, but the early Babylonian's most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment.
It's hard not to get the resolution urge on New Year's Eve. There's that sense of renewal, of rebirth, and the guilty awareness that you ate your own weight in chocolate during the holidays. Sure, last year's resolutions didn't make it past the fifth of January, but hey, this year's going to be different, right?
Most of us don't have a clue how to make a reasonable resolution, which is why most of us fail to keep the ones we make. We set high goals for ourselves, and then wonder why we never attain them. So we either stop setting goals (never a good choice), or make resolutions that are ridiculously easy to keep. I asked a friend what his New Year's resolution was last year. She thought very seriously and then replied "Breathing." An admirable goal, but hopefully not one she'll have to struggle to keep.
Determined that this year you'll keep those New Year's Resolutions? Here are a few goal setting tips to get you started!
Don't Try Everything at Once! There's a temptation with the New Year, to run off a list of everything we've ever wanted to change. Don't fall for it! You'll have better luck fulfilling one or two goals than you will with a list of fifty. You can always add new resolutions to your list later. Take one thing at a time.
Word it Carefully. Let's say your resolution is to relax more in the coming year. Word this carefully. Try not to think of it as "This year I am going to relax." That's a stress-inducer waiting to happen. It forces you into thinking of the resolution as something you must do, not something you want to do. Try to make it sound a little gentler: "This year I'm going to explore different ways of relaxing."
Make a Plan. Once you know what your resolution is, try to break it down. Nobody accomplishes anything of significance by trying to do it all at once. This doesn't have to be a complicated plan; just brainstorm enough to give you a place to start. Eg. Don’t say to yourself “I will have quit biting my nails by next week!” Cut it down to not biting one particular nail all week, and move on to two nails etc. Write it Down. Write down your resolution and your plan of action. Stick it up on the fridge, in your locker, wherever you know you'll see it. That way you'll have a constant reminder of the resolution. You may want to change the wording as time passes and your goal changes.
Good Luck!
Common Resolutions and how to achieve them with nzgirl!
- Get in Shape – A hard one, we know. This year we are going to have a regular yoga section here so start with that as your exercise and see where it takes you.
- Help Medical Science – Check out the HPV vaccine trials here, you can help the future health of millions of women. Find out how by clicking here.
- Get a new job – find out how to make a good first impression on a potential employer here.
- Manage my stress – find out how to distress here.
- Read. Every month Miranda and her minions read books until they come out of their ears. Check out their picks In BOOKS
- Expand your mind. This is Miranda's favourite passtime! Join her as she tracks down little known facts and investigates history with the help of Encarta in Did you know?
- Get myself organised – a big ask, but you can start with the little things, like your makeup bag. In the next two days, nzgirl will show you how to overhaul your make up kit!
Last updated: 30/04/2008
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The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays, first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In 153 BC the Roman senate declared January 1 to be the beginning of the New Year. If you are determined to keep this years promises to yourself, Miranda tells you how….