Resolution Time

It's that time of year again where we all start making plans for the coming year.

Creating my own resolutions got me thinking...

Where do New Year Resolutions come from?

We know that more than 4000 years ago ancient Babylonians
celebrated a New Year festival called Akitu. Akitu lasted for twelve days and in this time the Babylonians planted crops, crowned a new king or pledged loyalty to an existing one, and made promises to the gods to repay debts or return borrowed items. It was felt that keeping their word would give the gods cause to look favourably on them.

The Ancient Romans created the calendar as we know it, with New Year falling on the 1st of January, a month dedicated to the two-faced god Janus, who looked back into the previous year and forward into the next. The Romans made promises and sacrifices to Janus, vowing good behaviour for the following year.

So... 

What do people resolve to do?

According to statistics in the UK, almost half of the New Year resolutions made for 2020 were to do with losing weight or improving diet. Other popular resolutions were saving more money, taking up a new hobby or cutting down on alcohol or giving up smoking. 27% of people have never made a New Year resolution.

If you're looking to make a real impact on your life, it's better to frame your resolution positively. Decide what you are going to do rather than what you aren't. Instead of "eat less chocolate", try "eat more healthily". That way you can make a positive choice instead of feeling that you are sacrificing something or losing out.

After such a strange year as we've had this year, I imagine there will be a lot of New Year Resolutions about spending more time with friends and loved ones (as soon as we are allowed) or cultivating hobbies and activities we've missed out on. 

I know that during the first lockdown in the Spring there was a noticeable improvement in public spiritedness, a willingness to muck in, a benefit to the environment - as the covid crisis has continued those benefits appear to have worn very thin, but perhaps enough people remember that some of those might feature on Resolution lists.

Here are some positive Resolution ideas you might like to consider:

• Create a positive morning ritual - whether you take your coffee outdoors or start the day with a meditation or you commit to a wholesome breakfast.
• Keep a journal / take more photos - commit to preserving memories of your life.
• Shop local - our independent local shops, restaurants and cafes have taken a massive hit over the past year. Supporting them keeps money in the local economy and helps preserve the individuality of your local area.
• Find your tribe - who have you missed spending time with this year? Friends and family are so important as a support network. Loneliness and isolation are hard to bear - find people who resonate with your values and commit to spending more time with them for a happier life.
• Learn a new skill - whether it's leather-working, computer-aided-design or speaking Spanish. Learn something new this year.
• Volunteer - the world needs you, your time, your energy, your kindness and your skills. Whether it's the local Scout group, hearing readers at the primary school or gardening for an elderly neighbour, your contribution will make the world richer.
• Go for more walks, in all weathers, to get to know your local area and to rediscover a connection with the wilder world.

My New Year Resolutions this year:

I'm quite happy with these. I took my time over the wording, as I wanted to frame them positively and for them to be about the life I want to live. Of course, my plans for the year also include more gardening, decorating the pantry and the dining room, lots of plans for Scouting... but I had to whittle it down to the core essence of what I want for 2021. These aren't measurable resolutions either, but I will know if I am following them.

Join me on my year of making it count, activity, living life more slowly, creatively and adventurously!