Tough to complete New Year resolutions
“ON Jan 1, I will ....... ” According to research, the blank space will be filled with one or combinations of these options: exercise more, eat healthier, lose weight, quit smoking, save money, learn a new skill, volunteer and travel.
These options focus on selfimprovement and making changes in one’s life.
According to a 2016 research, out of 41 per cent of Americans who made resolutions, only nine per cent felt that they accomplished them by the end of the year.
There is a Bahasa Melayu meme doing the rounds that says: “Azam itu umpama sampan; selalunya ke laut (one’s determination is like a boat, frequently at sea).”
But why does it have to be this way? Shouldn’t change for the better be welcomed and celebrated by everyone?
New Year resolutions have a long history dating back to ancient civilisations.
The ancient Babylonians are credited with being the first to make New Year resolutions, more than 4,000 years ago. They made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts.
The Romans also made New Year resolutions. They did so to honour Janus, the god of beginnings, transitions and endings. In medieval Europe, knights took a peacock vow at the end of the Christmas season each year to reaffirm their commitment to chivalry.
One factor that may have contributed to the popularity of these resolutions in modern times is the increased focus on self-improvement and personal development.
With the rise of self-help movements and the proliferation of personal development resources, people may be more inclined to make resolutions to take control of their lives and achieve their goals.
But changing habits is difficult, said Dr Azmawaty Mohamad Nor, head, Department of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya.
“Repeated behaviours can lead to the development of habits, which are reinforced when the environment remains consistent.
“On the other hand, habits that benefit communities, like recycling or choosing environmentally friendly modes of transportation, can also be shaped by factors in the environment surrounding the behaviour.”
No wonder completing New Year resolutions (at the same time and place every year) is such an overwhelming task.