The New Year is here! One thing guaranteed is that within the first minute of 2019 many of us will have made a New Year’s resolution.
The tradition of making a New Year resolution has religious origins with Babylonians making promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts. The Romans followed similar traditions.
Here in New Zealand the tradition has lost religious significance but an estimated 32% of people still choose to make a resolution.
The top resolutions usually relate to personal improvement like losing weight and getting fit. But remember, don’t put too much pressure on yourself there are a whole range of other more important commitments that you can make that will deliver you more joy.
• Spend more time with family and friends
Make a real effort in 2019 to spend quality time with people you love and who love and respect you back. It might be a thirty minute catch up over coffee or it might be a weekend away. Whatever the date it will make you feel energised having time with people you really like and who like you back!
• Get regular exercise
Don’t commit to exercise for weight loss but commit to it for the fantastic mental and physical benefits that come with regular exercise. Studies show that it reduces the risk of some cancers, increases longevity, enhances mood and lowers blood pressure. In short, exercise keeps you healthy and makes you feel better.
• Learn something new
Are you considering a career change, want to learn a new language, or just how to fix your computer? Whether you take a course or read a book, learning new things is one of the easiest, most motivating New Year’s resolutions to keep. If you are already in the workforce, then an online learning option might be great for you.
• Help others
Finding ways to help others is a great way to demonstrate our Mercy values and a popular, non-selfish New Year’s resolution. Whether you choose to spend time helping out at your local library, mentoring a child, or working with a charity, there are many non-profit volunteer organisations that could really use your help.
• Get organised
Here’s a way to combine helping others and get organised. Spend time emptying out your cupboards and wardrobe and instead of throwing things out, donate it to charity. You’ll get a buzz every time you open the wardrobe door and see order and its great to help make others’ lives easier.
• Build in some rewards when you achieve your goals
Finally make sure you reward yourself for all your hard work when you reach goals or achieve great things!
Happy New Year – make 2019 a great one!
