Why do people make New Year’s resolutions?
New Year’s Day is the most popular time of the year for people to hit the proverbial “reset button.” Some resolve to lose weight, while others hope to spend more time with family and friends. But what is it about the new year that brings hope for such change and why do people make resolutions?
Most people want a second chance to improve the quality of their lives. The new year offers a blank slate — an opportunity to get things right. When we set New Year’s resolutions, we are utilizing a very important concept called self-efficacy, which means that by virtue of aspiring to a goal and following through on it, I have a sense of control over what’s happening in my life.
How did the tradition of New Year’s resolutions get started?
The tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates all the way back to 153 B.C. January is named after Janus, a mythical god of early Rome. Janus had two faces — one looking forward, one looking backward. This allowed him to look back on the past and forward toward the future.
On December 31st, the Romans imagined Janus looking backward into the old year and forward into the new year. This became a symbolic time for Romans to make resolutions for the new year and forgive enemies for troubles in the past.
The Romans also believed Janus could forgive them for their wrongdoings in the previous year. The Romans would give gifts and make promises, believing Janus would see this and bless them in the year ahead.
Why are New Year’s resolutions so hard to keep?
When you set a resolution and begin to follow through on it, you trigger a very powerful “neuro-hormone” in the brain called dopamine. Dopamine helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers and regulates emotional responses. Though dopamine levels are high as you set out to accomplish your resolution, they eventually drop.
If you don’t have a structure in place to keep you motivated, the behavior you are engaging in will tend to trail off. Breaking a resolution can cause some people to doubt themselves and ultimately stop working toward their goals.