New Year Resolutions: Why do we still do it to ourselves?

OK, I will admit that my days of clubbing, partying and staying out to watch the New Year come in are but a hazy memory! Don’t get me wrong, I am very lucky that I have been able to be with friends and family some years, been able to visit different counties with different friends other years, and loved every minute of it. Now I’m like “OK. what’s on the TV that I have seen before so it doesn’t matter if I sleep through the end of it?”

But what I still do is the annual tradition of setting New Year resolutions. They may not be as extravagant as 30 years ago, but perhaps more realistic? Why am I, and several million of you, drawn to this tradition? Is it the whole new number, new year, fresh start kind of thing? Or is it the knowledge that it resets the same time next year so we can always try again?

How successful have you been?

One thing I have noticed over the years is that some have been on the list before, perhaps more than once..? Loose weight, stop drinking, earn some money…. But others I have been successful in: stopping smoking. (And I did loose weight and kept it off for several years so there were times that it wasn’t on the list!)

I have also noticed that there has been a change in my resolutions. Perhaps I have learned, whilst getting older, to be more realistic in what I am setting myself? Would I be able to go to the gym four times a week or learn a different language or how to knit? Short answer is no!

Why do we do it?

Is there just a want or need or feeling of obligation that we need to do something new? Are we not content with how we are, a design flaw perhaps? Or is it that we are just trying to better ourselves?

To succeed, I believe that there is the need to be realistic. Not putting any pressure on ourselves, and not beating ourselves up if we only managed three weeks – that would have been three weeks more than if we hadn’t tried at all!

It is this philosophy that I use and suggest to people who what to do something eco and make a difference. My tag line used to be ”it doesn’t cost the earth to save the Earth”, it still doesn’t, but it wasn’t giving over the right message. So I thought about it and changed it to “A healthier world starts at home”.

Why change it?

People can relate to it more. If I go on to explain that no one person can change the World – G7 summit, Sir David Attenborough, any world leader. No one, so you can’t be expected too either. But what happens if you bring the boundaries of your world, in? Bring it closer to you, make your environment your home and your family and then you have every chance, every opportunity to change as much or as little as you want too.

So, it is not giving up or giving in (so the song goes!) but being realistic. Like with New Year resolutions, if you don’t manage it first time please try again or try it differently. But please don’t leave it another year to try again!

I am always here to try and help you, suggest things that you hadn’t thought about, but especially encourage you as I definitely think that this is one life changing choice that shouldn’t be given up with!

Happy New Year!

And, if you’re stuck for some resolution ideas, why not try these? Good luck!
How about reducing your single use plastic consumption?
Switch to more environmentally-friendly cleaning products.
Try Veganuary.