*Christi Shingara*
Ohh those good old New Year’s resolutions. Even if you hate to admit it, we’ve all done them! Maybe some were successful and others not so much. Whatever the case, we thought it would be fun to go beyond the actual resolutions themselves and dive a little deeper into the tradition and how it all started.
Enjoy these New Year’s resolution fun facts…Oh, and Happy New Year!
- About 45% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions.
- Only about 8% of Americans are successful at following through on their resolutions, most of them fizzling out by the end of January.
- Most popular resolutions are: lose weight, eat healthier or change diet, start and maintain an exercise routine, spend more time with family and friends, make mental health a priority, spend less money, save more money, travel more, take up a new hobby or sport, find a new job, start your own business, and quit smoking/drinking.
- The ancient Babylonians are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions some 4,000 years ago. They would make promises to their gods, and if they kept their word they would be rewarded in the next year. Though for them, the year began not in January but in mid-March when the crops were planted.
- If you write or vocalize your resolution, you are most likely to keep it.
- Resolutions in the early 1900s were more religious or spiritual in nature. However, over the years, resolutions seem to have migrated from denying physical indulgences to general self-improvement, like losing weight.
- Resolutions vary around the world. For example, in the US and Egypt, health related resolutions were the top picks. Australia and Japan topped the charts with resolutions looking for love. Russian resolutions usually focused on education, and in India, career goals were #1.
Make any New Year’s resolutions for 2022? Let us know in the comments below.
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