The origins of New Year’s resolutions are believed to come from ancient Babylon times, over 4000 years ago in an attempt to please their gods.

New Year’s resolutions are often made to achieve certain personal goals in modern times.

Some of the most popular New Year’s resolutions include:

• Eat healthier;
• Join the gym;
• Quit or cut back on drinking alcohol;
• Quit smoking;
• Cook at home more often;
• Have a better work-life balance;
• Prioritise mental health.

No alcohol. Picture: CANVA

Top tips to stick to New Year’s resolutions:

• Limit the number of resolutions: When you have two or three it’s easier to focus on your goal. You can even assign certain months to each of your resolutions, for example in the first three months you can focus on one and the following three on another.
• Baby steps: If your resolution is to eat healthier, don’t just jump in head first, instead try adding a few different and healthier options every time you go shopping.
• Avoid repeating past failures: Don’t have the same resolution you had last year and the year before, you’ve tried it and it didn’t work out. Maybe it’s a sign to try something different or similar to what it is you want to achieve.
• Get support: Have a family member or friend with similar resolutions join you on your journey, this will help with motivation and could add excitement to reach each goal.

OFM News/Casey-Lee Anthony mvh