Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag - Jan 26 - Flipbook - Page 7
Why we make New Year's Resolutions
When the New Year approaches, many of us
reevaluate our priorities in life. For example, we
might desire to quit smoking, reduce our drinking, or
go to the gym more. When the sun rises on 1
January, we leap out of bed with this newfound
drive to be healthier.
It’s a tradition that’s endured for thousands of years.
Historians claim that even the ancient Babylonians
made resolutions at the beginning of their calendar
year over 4000 years ago! And in contemporary
times, our resolutions and goals have continued, part
and parcel, due to this annual custom.
Research conducted by comparison website Finder
found that 72% of Australians – the equivalent to
almost 14 million people – set at least one New
Year’s resolution at the beginning of the year. Of the
people they surveyed, most had goals to improve
their fitness (30%) or eat more healthily (28%). There
were also more sweeping declarations, such as
striving for a better work-life balance (8%), getting
more sleep (13%) and quitting drinking or gambling
altogether (2%). Yet, for many, these commitments
don’t last. So, let’s explore why our New Year’s
Resolutions may fail to stick.
Why many New Year’s Resolutions fail
It’s a tale as old as time: We set a New Year’s
Resolution, such as leading a healthier lifestyle, and
slowly but surely, many of us commence this
odyssey, and over time, our commitment to
ourselves starts to wane. We push ourselves to make
sure our resolution sticks, but unfortunately, it’s
reminiscent of old blue tac—it isn’t going to stay
stuck for long. Why does this happen? And how
does it happen?
The reason could be the practicality of your
resolution. Big goals are great, like committing to
running a marathon or losing 20 kg by June.
However, if you go into this self-exploratory journey
without prior preparation, knowledge, or realistic
expectations, the finish line may feel too distant.
Thus, our resolutions can slowly drift away.
