It happens every year. You decide right before New Year’s Day that you want to make a positive change in your life, whether it be becoming a healthier person or just doing more of what you like. And then weeks, days, or even hours later, you blow it. And if you’re thinking, “Well, this doesn’t apply to me. I always keep my New Year’s resolutions,” stop kidding yourself, because chances are, you might have already broken your resolution this year. Less than 10% of people keep their New Year’s resolutions, with over 60% of people quitting in the first month. So why are New Year’s resolutions still so widespread if no one ever keeps them?

First, let’s look at the history. The first known resolutions were made in 200 BC in Ancient Babylon. The Babylonians held a festival called Akitu to celebrate their New Year, which occurred in March. The main purpose of the festival was to honor the king and sometimes elect a new one, but to also honor the gods. The Babylonians would make resolutions in order to please the gods, most of which involved returning agricultural tools that had been loaned by farmers. They thought that if someone kept their New Year’s resolution throughout the entire year, the gods would give them favor, while if they didn’t keep their resolution, they would get on the gods’ bad side. This created pressure for the people to keep their resolutions, a feeling that many people still have today when creating theirs. Fast forward to the 1700s when Christian priests like John Wesley encouraged their followers to make their own resolutions on New Year’s Day, helping resolutions to gain the popularity they currently have.

And now for some statistics. A survey conducted in October 2023 found some differences between the resolutions for this year and last year. One big contrast was that this year, people are putting more emphasis on improving their physical health, as opposed to their mental health, like last year. However, many of this year’s resolutions are similar to those in the past. The most common resolutions for 2024 were improved fitness, improved finances, improved mental health, weight loss, and improved diets. Surprisingly, many people also set multiple resolutions, with the most common amount being 3 and least common being 1. No wonder everyone breaks their promises!