Blog > New Year's Resolutions > The Origins of New Year’s Resolutions
As an ancient tradition making New Year’s resolutions dates back thousands of years serving as a representation of this never ending search for growth, renewal and self improvement for humanity. It started as religious rituals that have become a worldwide tradition of setting personal goals for the upcoming year. I’m going to explore this rich history of New Year’s resolutions, its evolution, and tips for how we can make meaningful commitments today.
More on the fascinating traditions of ancient Babylon on World History Encyclopedia.
Learn more about Roman traditions on History.com.
During the medieval time, there was an intersection of New Year’s resolutions and religious practices.
Practice: The new year observances were all focused on attending church services and making spiritual commitments.
In the 18th century, John Wesley, founder of Methodism, began introducing Covenant Renewal Services in the lead up to New Year’s Eve or Day.
For more information, read The United Methodist Church.
In recent centuries, resolutions have shifted from religious to secular focus, reflecting broader aspirations for personal development:
According to a Statista study, 39 percent of U.S. adults make New Year’s resolutions and just 9 percent accomplish them before the end of the year. Most people are successful because they set good goals and they stick with them.
The enduring appeal of resolutions lies in their ability to:
Then evaluate what worked and what didn’t last year, looking for room for improvement.
Your goals must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time bound.
Example: Don’t promise to “get fit” — focus instead on “I’ll exercise 30 minutes, 3 times a week, for 6 months.” To find out more about SMART goals, go to MindTools.
Breaking big goals into smaller milestones keep you motivated and the progress steady.
These tools like Fix My Life AI will help you keep track of your resolutions and take notice of your milestones.
Fix My Life AI offers tools and resources to help you turn your resolutions into reality:
New Year’s resolutions come in many forms, from ancient Babylonian rituals to modern-day goal setting, but they all share the same idea: a hope of improvement in the ongoing pursuit of self. So what is preventing you from making 2025 a year of lasting success? By reflecting on the past, setting meaningful goals, and using tools like Fix My Life AI you will.
Fix My Life AI starts planning your resolutions today and unlocks your full potential.