A New Year’s Resolution is either about instilling a positive habit or cutting out a negative one.
But why do we wait until January 1st each year to make these changes? Maybe it’s the appeal of being able to start from scratch, becoming a blank canvas for self-improvement, which is what ‘new year, new me’ really means.
Or it could be as simple as the fact it gives us a date to plan and prepare for while allowing us to indulge in all our bad habits over Christmas.
The tradition of New Year’s Resolutions goes back to the Roman Empire. Julius Caesar started the tradition of making resolutions on January 1st as a way of honouring the Roman god of beginnings, Janus, whose two faces allowed him to simultaneously see himself in the past and the future.
Hopefully, below we can give you some fresh ideas on how to change-up popular resolutions that will help you stick to them in the long-run.
The Best Resolutions to Make
Try Something Creative
Probably the most fun you can have from a resolution is deciding to take up a creative hobby. This is a broad resolution that you can make personal to you. You could take an hour before you go to sleep each night to read a book. Whether it is a novel, a self-help book, or a historical book is up to you. This is the great thing about resolving to read more, you open yourself up to a world of new entertainment choices.
Trying something creative can truly be anything. It is more about taking up a positive hobby, enjoying it, and forging it into a habit. Learning how to play an instrument or a challenging game like chess is a way to create a fun hobby that is intellectually stimulating. Having an interesting hobby is great for your mental health and, depending on what it is, can increase your cognitive skills.
Eat More Healthily
This is probably one of the more common resolutions – however, how do you improve your diet exactly? One simple way is to add more citrus fruits into your shopping basket each week. Grapefruits, oranges, and clementines all contain high concentrations of vitamin C, which is great for your skin, may reduce the risk of chronic diseases, boosts immunity, and much more. It is a tasty and simple way to eat healthily.
Another simple tip is to add vegetables to the side of your meals. Vegetables have a bad rap. But if you find new and exciting ways to prepare them, vegetables can be an incredibly tasty and healthy supplement to a meal or even become the main focus on your plate.
Exercise Regularly
This is another of the most common New Year’s Resolutions, yet most effective too. If you exercise regularly you will see excellent physical health benefits. However, just like picking up a new creative hobby can sharpen your mind and improve your mental health, so can regular exercise. Any form of exercise will cause your brain to release positive endorphins, reducing stress and improving your general mood.
To make exercise a habit, you need to be able to find some enjoyment within the exercise you are doing. It can’t be a chore because that is how New Year’s Resolutions are forgotten. Find fresh and interesting ways to work-out. You don’t always have to go to the gym; try new things like yoga, or a new sport.
This can easily be done with a group of friends or work colleagues, all you need to do is find a space such as the training pitches at Franklin’s Gardens which can host almost any event.
How to stick to a Resolution
On average it takes 66 days before a behaviour becomes automatic and potentially even longer for a habit to stick. Which is why enjoying your newfound activity is essential if you want to keep it up. If you enjoy your Resolution you will stick to it, and hopefully, if you stick to it you will see positive mental and physical benefits. This is the reason we make New Year’s Resolutions, and why it has become a tradition.
Thank you for reading this Franklin’s Gardens blog post. If you find a Resolution in which we can help and provide you a service, then do not hesitate to get in contact on 01604 751543. Alternatively you can visit our contact page to send a message.
