New Year resolution is a popular trend in the world with its origin dating back to eons. The resolution has been traced to the Ancient Babylonians, who incorporated it in their religious festivals celebrated in March. The Romans, thereafter imitated the Babylonians but shifted the New Year resolution and sacrifice to January in honor of their god, Janus.
The tradition evolved through each era and century, till it became well-rooted in some cultures and religions the resolution takes different forms in different cultures and countries. For example, Chinese people make resolutions by practicing rituals and traditions to ensure good luck in the New Year. The tradition includes giving red envelopes with money, holding reunion dinners with family, offering sacrifices to ancestors, and engaging in thorough house cleaning, to usher in a prosperous new year.
In recent times, Nigerians have increasingly joined the trend of New Year’s resolution. Although for Nigerians, the trend is neither cultural nor religious, but a way to set goals and make changes in the new year.
According to research, only a minute percentage of people stick to or follow through their resolution due to it being unrealistic and vague. Regardless of the motive for making resolution, there are some points to consider in making and firmly sticking to it.
1. Specificity: Make specific and achievable resolutions instead of vague and unrealistic ones. Break goals into steps and parts, from easy and simple to difficult and complex so as to ease realization of the goals.
2. Consistency: Be consistent in implementing actions, tasks or goals set. Start small and make into a routine till it transforms into habit that becomes difficult to break.
3. Accountability: Be accountable for your progress in achieving set goals. Do this by having accountability partners, tracking through journaling and celebrating milestones.
4. Discipline: Change can be daunting and challenging; however, self-discipline is required to stick to an unpleasing routine or task. It requires great strength and resolve to achieve already set goals.
5. Commitment: Sticking to set goals requires immense and uncompromising commitment, a lack of which can lead to loss of focus. An unwavering commitment is required to be a motivation in the case of adversity encountered. When it becomes difficult and unbearable to forge ahead in achieving set goals, commitment to the resolution would be driving force to actualizing the goals.
Conclusively, it is not mandatory to make a new year’s resolution, because resolutions are not limited to certain or selected days, neither is it enshrined in our culture or beliefs, however to those who hold it sacred and important, it is imperative and praiseworthy to stick to the resolutions.
