Adios New Years Resolution: Hello to a better me!

When I was younger I always made New Year's Resolutions.  By the end of January I had forgotten the resolution and was back to my old ways.

In the last few years I've grown to hate New Year's Resolutions.  So, I sat down this evening and searched for the origination of New Year's Resolutions.  Sometimes I really love Wikipedia, as it put all the sources together for me (instead of a really big search for me and wading through TONS of information!). 

According to Wikipedia, there's several points of origination to New Year's Resolutions

*The ancient Babylonians made promises to their Gods that they would return any borrowed objects and pay any debts.

*The Romans began each year by making promises to the God Janus, for who January is named.

This goes on quite a bit, including knights and such, and then it states:

*At the end of the Great Depression about 1/4 of Americans formed resolutions

As many traditions do, it seems that New Year's resolutions have morphed from a religious practice, in early days, to what they are today, goals for a better you for the New Year.

My personal philosophy on why New Year's Resolutions fail is that you start the New Year with this New Goal.  When you mess up (Eat something fattening, smoke a cigarette, etc) you figure, "Well, I completely messed this up.  I'll try again next year."  That's always been my problem.  

So, maybe the goal shouldn't be to be a totally different person in the New Year.

Instead of New Year's Resolutions, I say we set small, attainable goals. 

Instead of saying, "I'm going to go on a diet and lose this weight,", Say, "I'm ready to make a lifestyle change and eat better/exercise."  Once you complete that goal (and don't worry if you cheat and pig out on some chocolate, no one is perfect) set small goals such as, "I am going to lose 10 pounds."

Instead of saying, "New Year's Day, I'm going to quit smoking, Cold Turkey."  How about: "I'm going to smoke half a pack today, instead of a whole pack."? You can wean yourself slowly, or even ask your doctor for help with smoking cessation (I've heard good things about hypnotism).

I guess my point is that New Year's Resolutions set you up for failure.  You set these high goals for yourself, and chastise yourself when you are unable to change your lifestyle, just because the day on the calendar changed.  Generally, whatever you are trying to change didn't become a habit or a lifestyle in one day, why try to get rid of it in one day?

So, I'm setting GOALS for myself for the New Year, not resolutions.  My goals are:
1. Make a conscious effort to eat better.
2. Make a conscious effort to move a little more (maybe I can convince Cassie to play Just Dance with me)
3. Try to spend a little more time with my husband.

4. Try to have more patience with my children, as they are getting older and testing me every day, in every way possible.

5. Try to make more time for me.

If I don't meet a goal, oh well.  There's always tomorrow to try again!