As the new year approaches, many of us will be thinking about setting ourselves a new years resolution, a tradition that has been around for many years, but where and when did this tradition begin? The first recorded people to create new years resolutions were the Ancient Babylonians, over 4000 years ago. They held a 12-day festival called Akitu and set new years pledges surrounding religion, mythology, power, and socioeconomic values.
Since then, new years has transitioned into a two day celebration, new years eve and new years day, and many people set new years resolutions surrounding their careers, social life, health and wellbeing. So, why do people make new years resolutions? Psychologist Mariana Strongin, PsyD, says that with a new year comes a “sense of renewal”, making us think about the changes we want to make in our lives.
Some of the most common new years resolutions are to exercise more, quit any bad habits, and learn a new skill or hobby. If you work within the care industry, your resolutions may look different. Are you looking for ideas? Below are some of the resolutions we recommend for the year ahead.