The tradition of making New Year’s resolutions has ancient origins. As far back as 4,000 years ago, the Babylonians would make pledges to their gods when celebrating the New Year, promising to pay their debts and to return borrowed objects. They believed that if they honoured these vows, they would earn the favour of the gods. Similarly, the Romans promised good conduct in the New Year to the god Janus. Janus had two faces; one looked into the past and the other into the future. He was the perfect god for New Year’s resolutions, which require reflecting on past mistakes and looking ahead to new goals. Over time, this tradition became common among Christians as well.
Good intentions and poor results
Today, New Year’s resolutions are a popular secular practice. For example, according to statistics, between 40 and 50% of Americans make resolutions for the New Year. Sadly, research also indicates that the success rate is extremely low. After the initial weeks, most people give up and go back to old habits. Nonetheless, some people are successful: they stick to their commitments and accomplish the goals they have set. Drawing from their experience, we can identify some simple guidelines to help us achieve our own New Year’s resolutions.
Be specific, positive and realistic
To start, New Year’s resolutions must be specific. ‘Read more books’, ‘get better grades’, ‘go to the gym’, ‘be kinder to my sister’ are admirable resolutions, but they are vague. Consider these more specific alternatives: ‘read 100 pages a week’, ‘study four hours every day’, ‘go to the gym three times a week’, ‘pay one compliment to my sister every day’. Then, make sure that your resolutions are positive. Achieving them should make you feel good and proud of yourself. Also, be realistic and consider with honesty what your capabilities and limits are. For instance, aiming to read 100 pages a week might be too ambitious if you hardly read a book last year. Consider aiming for 50 pages a week instead. It’s better to start slow than to be overly ambitious.
Write them down and ask for help
Another valuable piece of advice is to write down your resolutions. It helps to see them on a page. Even better, hang that page on a wall where you will see it frequently. It will be a constant reminder of your aspirations. It will also make your resolutions visible to other people. Indeed, discuss your resolutions with a person you trust and ask him or her to support you and monitor your progress. People often fail to keep their resolutions due to the challenge of holding oneself accountable, so an external supporter can be of great help.
Revise, monitor, and schedule
As the year progresses, you might notice that your resolutions need some adjustments. For example, you vowed to go to the gym three times a week, but you are managing to go only twice. Or you discovered that going to the gym bores you, and that jogging is much more fun. Don’t give up or be discouraged if you realize that your initial plan wasn’t perfect. Just revise it. Also, keep track of your progress. It will boost your confidence and make you more determined. Finally, find the right time for your new activities in your weekly schedule. Make them part of your routine. They will gradually become habits and produce the lifestyle change you’re after
1) Would you like to learn more about the history of New Year’s resolutions and how they are celebrated by different cultures? Watch this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46v1b_iLhzc
2) What are the most commonly-selected New Year’s resolutions among Americans? Here are the results of a Forbes Poll:
https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/new-years-resolutions-statistics/
3) Would you like some more tips to make your New Year’s resolutions successful? Read this article:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/get-out-your-mind/202001/18-tips-make-resolutions-stick
4) Are New Year’s resolutions powerful or pointless? Here’s some advice from the BBC:
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220103-powerful-effective-new-years-resolutions
1) Read the article and complete the sentences with the correct alternative.
1. The Babylonians believed the gods would be good to them if they
a. kept their New Year’s promises.
b. had no debts.
c. made New Year’s pledges.
2. The Babylonians’ New Year’s resolutions focused on
a. self-improvement.
b. material issues.
c. spiritual growth.
3. The origins of New Year’s resolutions are
a. Roman.
b. Christian.
c. pagan.
4. New Year’s resolutions such as ‘go to the gym’ are
a. specific.
b. too specific.
c. not specific enough.
5. Your resolutions should make you feel good, so they need to be
a. positive.
b. specific.
c. realistic.
6. When making New Year’s resolutions, it is wise to
a. be overly ambitious.
b. reflect on one’s actual capabilities.
c. ignore one’s limits.
7. It is important to hang your written resolutions on a wall because
a. it helps you commit to them.
b. it is part of the tradition of New Year’s resolutions.
c. it is a way to keep them to yourself.
8. According to the article, a trusted person can
a. criticise your resolutions.
b. share your resolutions.
c. provide external monitoring and support.
9. New Year’s resolutions
a. should be perfect.
b. should be revised, if necessary.
c. shouldn’t need any adjustments past the first week or so.
10. New Year’s resolutions can become habits if
a. you revise them repeatedly.
b. you keep track of your progress.
c. you successfully fit them into your schedule.
VOCABULARY
2) Complete the sentences with the following words. Put the verbs and nouns in the right form, if necessary.
debt * vow * secular * guideline * to achieve * proud * reminder * accountable * adjustment * to boost
1. I’m so happy we’re going on a vacation. The news really ……………………………….. my mood.
2. I always forget that we have music on Tuesday! I need to write myself a ……………………………….. .
3. There’s too much butter and sugar in your cake. You need to make some ……………………………….. to your recipe.
4. Political institutions in many countries are ……………………………….., meaning that they are not connected with religion.
5. I need you to give me some ……………………………….. for writing this article. For example, how long should it be?
6. I made three New Year’s resolutions; I failed one, but I ……………………………….. the other two.
7. In a democracy, elected politicians are ……………………………….. to their voters. They need to report and justify their political decisions.
8. Her parents felt very ……………………………….. when she graduated with top grades.
9. He borrowed money from John. His ……………………………….. amounts to € 100.
10. A ……………………………….. is a serious promise.
GRAMMAR – Imperative
3) Select the correct verbs and complete the sentences with the given verbs at the imperative form.
to turn * to cross * to walk
1. ……………………………….. the street, ……………………………….. left and ……………………………….. to the end of the road.
to sit * to come * to listen
2. ……………………………….. in, ……………………………….. down and ……………………………….. to me!
to pour * to add
3. ……………………………….. the tea, then ……………………………….. a drop of milk and a sugar cube.
to go * to keep
4. ……………………………….. quiet, I’m studying. If you have to talk, ……………………………….. somewhere else.
to enjoy * to drink * to eat
5. ……………………………….. your pizza! ……………………………….. your lemonade! ……………………………….. your meal!
to stop (negative form) * to give up (negative form)
6. ……………………………….. running! You can do it! ……………………………….. !
to have * to write * to be
7. ……………………………….. a good trip! ……………………………….. safe and ……………………………….. me a postcard!
to listen to * to do
8. ……………………………….. your teachers, ……………………………….. your homework, and you will get good grades.
to close * to wait * to tidy up
9. ……………………………….. a minute! You can’t leave this mess! ……………………………….. your room, and, when you leave, ……………………………….. the door.
to look * to take * to cry (negative form) * to seize
10. Many proverbs use the imperative form. For example: ‘……………………………….. before you leap’, ‘……………………………….. the day’, ‘……………………………….. the bull by the horns’, ‘‘……………………………….. over spilled milk’.
SHORT ESSAY
4) Did you ever make any New Year’s resolutions? Did you manage to achieve them? Write about your experience. (60-80 words)
5) Is there a particular aspect of your life that you would like to change? Describe it and write down the right resolutions that will help you change it. (60-80 words)
DEBATE
6) Pair up with one of your classmates and look at the proposition below; one of you will argue in favour of it and one of you against it.
Proposition: It is important to make New Year’s resolutions.
(Carlo Dellonte)
(Image: serezny, 123rf)
