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New Year’s Resolutions

At least half of America will reportedly make ’em.

Research suggests real benefit even if you break ’em…

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“Resolutions deserve a little more respect.”

University of Scranton researcher John Norcross who's conducted studies of New Year's resolution-makers and those who set personal goals *without* formal New Year's resolutions. 60% of resolution-makers fail by six months, *BUT* resolution-makers are ten times more likely to make life changes than non-resolution-makers.
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“Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.”

Famed American author Mark Twain in 1863. First mention of actual "resolutions" tied to the holiday in America appeared in a 1813 Boston newspaper and New Year's resolutions were commonplace by the mid 1800s.
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RESOLUTION ORIGINS

  • Believed to date back 4,000 years ago to ancient Babylon, where people held a celebration at the start of the new farming year and made pledges to the gods for the coming year.
  • Romans also marked the start of a new year; Julius Caesar began tradition of “new” year beginning in January.
  • 1671 diary entry by a Scottish writer references “resolutions.”
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OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW Have you been successful with New Year's resolutions in the past? Why or why not? Will you make one this year?

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