The year 2024 will be the Year of the Dragon, which symbolises strength and good fortune and is expected to bring dynamic energy and opportunities for transformation. Dragons are known for their vitality and courage, and this year encourages bold action and change. The fiery influence of the Dragon can stimulate innovation, but it's important to strike a balance between enthusiasm and thoughtful planning.
Do you make resolutions every year?
The story of a New Year's resolution
Have you ever wondered where the strange superstition of New Year's resolutions comes from? Surprisingly, it comes from Julius Caesar. Julius Caesar was the first to make a wish in honour of the two-sided deity Janus. He also introduced the 365-day calendar that we still use today. So it's not surprising that January is named after Janus.
According to tradition, the first day of the new year is the ideal time to make this vow, as Janus looks to the past on one side and the future on the other. Just as we all do on 31 December.
The most common New Year's resolutions
So let's take a look at the 7 most popular New Year's resolutions!
1. I'm going to lose weight this year! People are generally unhappy with their weight. So it's not surprising that the number one New Year's resolution is to lose weight. This is especially true after Christmas, when weight is even higher and bellies are full of sweets and cakes.
2. Happiness. Another very common resolution after the end-of-year madness is that next year will be different. We wish for a calmer, less stressful life, balance and harmony, but without concrete action, it remains a wish.
3. Saving money is also one of the most common New Year's resolutions, and everyone probably knows someone who has said to themselves that this year they're finally going to get their finances in order! I'm going to spend less and save more, maybe find a better-paid job and finally start saving for retirement... Sound familiar?
4. Regular exercise is also high on the list of most common New Year's resolutions, and this year it's particularly important. Covid has forced us to spend more time at home than ever before and we've never enjoyed outdoor activities as much as we do now, so expect resolutions like I'm going to do more sport.
5. We also often make resolutions to be better people, to get on better with others. This promise is very difficult to keep because it would require a change in our own nature. If you are planning to do something similar in the coming year, you need to be clear about what you want to improve and develop, and in this case it goes without saying that you should not give up after the first failure.
6. Meeting deadlines, punctuality. It's surprising how many people think they need to improve their punctuality. From tomorrow I'll always arrive at work at 8 o'clock, I won't be late for any reports and I'll be early for meetings with friends, and resolutions like this are often made on New Year's Eve.
7. A healthier lifestyle and diet. After the gluttony of Christmas, many people vow to adopt a healthier diet, as many of our stomachs are clearly signalling that the diet of the last few days needs to stop. Eating healthier can mean going on a diet, but it can also mean eating only home-cooked meals and more fruit and vegetables. Whatever your goal, the breakfasts and lunches in our recipe collection will help you develop healthier eating habits.
The secret to keeping your New Year's resolutions
If you're determined to keep your resolutions for next year, there's only one thing left to do. How do you start keeping your New Year's resolutions? There are 9 secrets to keeping your New Year's resolutions:
1. Plan ahead! The key to a good New Year's resolution is not to think about it on New Year's Eve in a drunken stupor and tell yourself that from tomorrow there will be no more cigarettes, chocolate or alcohol. You should decide what you want to change for the New Year several weeks in advance, because in many cases this requires both technical and mental preparation.
By mental preparation, we mean getting your mind in the right frame of mind to change your habits. It's not an easy process, and it can take a long time to get used to the fact that things are about to change. Technical preparation means things as prosaic as not having chocolate in the house from the start of the year if you're on a diet, or choosing the form of exercise that suits you best and getting the tools you need to do it.
2. As part of your planning, analyse your previous goals. Were you successful? If so, why were they achieved? If not, why not? There's no point in sticking to the same objectives that you haven't managed to achieve for several years.
3. Refine your resolutions and modify them according to the failures of previous years. For example, if you're still promising yourself to lose weight this year, your resolution for this year should be: "I'll lose 5 pounds by April and 10 pounds by 31 December". This specific goal will help you stick to what you set out to do.
4. Always set yourself a single objective. Change just one thing radically, don't divide your energy. Later, if you feel you've stopped smoking by the summer, you can set yourself a new goal, but for now, concentrate on your main New Year's resolution.
5. Always set yourself a goal that is specific, achievable and important enough for you. If you say to yourself that you want to live healthier but you don't know how, you're bound to fail. Set very specific, achievable steps. No more Coke. I won't get on the bus in the morning just because there's a stop. These are small, easily achievable things that will bear fruit day after day.
6. In the beginning, you have to be strict with yourself. Don't break your New Year's resolution for at least 30 days, because that's how long it takes for a habit to take root. If you manage to stick to a diet or not smoke for 30 days, it will be much easier after that.
7. The goal must be progressive and continuous. This means the same thing as we said in the previous points: proceed in small steps. Divide your goal of losing 5 kg by April into even smaller parts: for example, lose 1.5 kg a month. These steps will give you a sense of achievement that will encourage you to keep going, especially if you reward yourself when you reach a sub-goal.
8. Motivate each other with your partner! It's much easier to keep a New Year's resolution if you have a supportive environment. Think about how difficult it is to go on a diet when everyone is still eating strudel, or to stop smoking when all your friends are smoking. Look for people who have the same goals as you to motivate each other. If you're on a diet, for example, join our closed group on Facebook, where you'll find a supportive community.
9. Try to avoid temptation! Don't make it difficult for yourself by going on a seven-course feast when you're dieting, or accompanying your girlfriend on a shopping spree when you're thrifting. You almost certainly won't be able to resist. Not because you're not good enough, but because that's the way people are. However, if you do run into difficulties and have a bad day, don't despair and don't give up on your goal. At the end of the day, reflect on the cause of your weakness and learn from it. And the next day, carry on with your resolution as if nothing had happened!