Sarah Hesse

Curious to see who makes resolutions, I asked around and found I am in the minority. The reaction to my question was varied. With some, it was a vehement “No way!” A few others told me they make specific goals all throughout the year and New Year’s resolutions were unnecessary. Those who say they do make resolutions say they usually make general “try to do better” resolutions, about things like losing weight, eating healthier, exercising, quitting smoking, saving money, spending more time with family, getting out of debt, or finding a new job. Most, though, told me they had made New Year’s resolutions in the past and did not keep them, so they don’t bother anymore.

Why make New Year’s resolutions? For me, the New Year is a symbolic time to consider new goals. There is something about a new year that is hopeful, inspiring and motivating. It is also quite a long-standing tradition. The Babylonians were the first to celebrate the New Year, about four thousand years ago. Their first month of the New Year was March, associated with the spring planting of crops. They also made resolutions, mostly relating to paying debts and returning borrowed farm equipment, in order to start the year with a clean slate. They believed what was done at the beginning of a new year set the tone for the entire year. The Romans changed the beginning of the New Year to January, named for Janus, a two-faced Roman god who looked back to the past and forward to the new future. Their resolutions were centered on living a more moral life. Since then, there have been many traditions associated with the New Year, but one of the most long-standing practices has been the making of resolutions.

That may be changing. One recent poll (December 2011) found that over 60% of adults in the U.S. were not planning to make a New Year’s resolution in 2012. That same poll, however, found almost two-thirds of adults under 30 years old, the group called Generation Y or the Millennials, did plan to make resolutions. That seems consistent with my limited informal poll.

Sarah Hesse, my nephew’s wife and a Millennial, routinely makes and achieves her New Year’s resolutions. “Before the first of the year I always write down three personal and three professional goals,” she says. “I also like to pick a theme for the year, something fun and memorable that rhymes like “Be Great in 08,” the theme I used for the year I was in my first job after college. The theme changes with every year. Mostly, I reflect on the prior year and make goals on what I’d like to change and improve in the year ahead.”

Sarah credits her mother for instilling her New Year’s tradition at a young age. “It taught me to visualize and stay focused,” she says. She has some easy to follow guidelines for those who want to make New Year’s resolutions and keep them: 1) make realistic goals “that are challenging, yet attainable,” 2) set specific goals that you can track progress for throughout the year, and 3) don’t overwhelm yourself with too many goals. Sarah also suggests visualizing what success looks like and using “Post It” reminders in places in easy to see places, like the bathroom, kitchen, and car. Most important of all, she says, “Write it down. Writing it down keeps me accountable for what I want (to achieve).”

I think I’ll take Sarah’s timely advice. But I’d better hurry!