So it's especially meaningful in 2006 that somewhere around Baghdad, Iraq is where New Year celebrations began. There is no truth to the rumor that Dick Clark hosted the first one.
Their celebration lasted for eleven days. But it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities don't even come close.
Most Americans watch it in their pajama's on TV. Let's flip the channel and see what our options are. There's Time's Square with Regis. Oh, then there's Time's Square with Ryan and Dick. And don't forget Time's Square with that other network. Thank God and the beer companies for college football bowl games or New Year's would really be boring.
It's that time again. So what is it about New Year's Resolutions that makes people want to make a significant change in their life?
We secretly or not so secretly hope that 2006 will be better than the year we just went through.
Stop smoking, start training, lose some body fat, start eating healthier,.etc. According to a study conducted by GNC, 50% resolved to exercise more, 38% wanted to lose weight, and 55% promised to eat healthier.
From previous experience, there are very few of us who actually follow through with resolutions.
Only 20% of us actually have the perseverance and patience to stick to our new promises we make to ourselves. Most new years resolutions are the same every year, and, tend to fade away by February, if not sooner.
Here are a couple of lists of the most common resolutions people make, and continually break.
Top 10 Most Common New Year Resolutions
Lose weight
Exercise more
Save or make more money
Stop smoking
Find a better job
Become more organized
Stick to a budget
Be more patient with people
Eat better
Become a better person
Or how about this one:
1) Spend more time with family and friends
Recent polls conducted by General Nutrition Centers, Quicken, and others shows that more than 50% of Americans vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year. What about the other 50%? Don't they care?
2) Take time for fitness
Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. Studies show that it reduces the risk of some diseases, increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss, enhances mood, lowers blood pressure, and even improves arthritis.
In short, exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better.
Sounds logical enough, yet most people will exercise for a few days to half a month, then quit. Logic alone just doesn't do the trick for sustaining your motivation.
3) Lose the Flab
At least Fifty-five percent of adults in America are overweight and the alarming rate of child obesity is outrageous! Put down the chips and cheeto's!
So it is not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions. Ever notice the abundance of weight loss commercials in January. It's their biggest time of the entire year for new sign-ups.
Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most important factors in sticking with a weight loss program. Yet why does all this goal setting fail year after year for most people?
4) Quit Smoking.
Even if you've tried to quit before and failed, that's okay. Over-the-counter nicotine replacement products now provides easier access to proven quit-smoking aids.
On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good.
Here's a good reason to quit smoking. Add up what you are spending on your cig's and you probably can make a car payment with the money you'll be saving. But again, will power alone does not help you carry out this resolution.
5) Enjoy Life More
Given the hectic, stress lifestyles of millions of Americans, it is no wonder that "enjoying life more" has become a popular goal. But what does that really mean?
Working less does not equate to enjoying life more. A lot of people dream of "retirement" until they retire. Then they're bored stiff and end up getting a job somewhere just to ease the boredom.
Or they discover that they're busier than ever after retirement, apparently catching up on all the running around they couldn't get done when they were working. Nice try, but that resolution just doesn't cut it either.
6) Quit Drinking
Many heavy drinkers fail to quit cold turkey but do much better when they learn to moderate their drinking. If you have decided that you want to stop drinking, there is help and support available.
7) Get Out of Debt
HELP! American's are drowning in debt. Paying unending interest on credit cards is literally slavery. But how in the world do we get out of the trap, dig our way out of the huge hole we've sunk into with a wallet or purse full of credit cards. Especially since we just maxed out our limit on X Box 360 and other Christmas "must have's."
Maybe our real resolution should be to just say NO to more and more "stuff."
Was money a big source of stress in your life last year?
What's the answer? Where do you begin? Read on.
8) Learn Something New
Have you vowed to make this year the year to learn something new? Excellent choice.
Maybe you're considering a career change, want to learn a new language, or just how to use your computer or selling on E-bay.
Whether you take a psychology course or read a book, you'll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivating New Year's resolutions to keep. Challenge your mind in the coming year.
Take the 30 Day Mental Fast to prepare your mind for this one. Get it free below.
9) Help Others
Many people have experienced a new surge of personal energy and excitement by spending a few days or weeks with the American Red Cross or Habitat For Humanity, for example.
Whether you choose to spend time delivering relief supplies, or building a house, these nonprofit volunteer organizations could really use your help, especially since Hurricane Katrina.
10) Get Organized
Whether you want your home straightened out enough that you can invite someone over, or your office organized enough that you can find the paper clips, begin small so it doesn't interfere with resolution #5.
Resolutions do not involve luck to be effective.
Traditional New Year foods are thought to bring luck. The Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year's Day will bring good fortune. Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts heartily agree.
Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by eating black-eyed peas. These are typically eaten with either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas have been considered good luck in many cultures.
So since New Years resolutions and luck don't bring permanent success, what does? Your change must come from within. What you believe about who you are will determine your success or failure every time. When you change your mind, you can change your future.
Let's face it the more restrictive we are on ourselves the more we fail to deliver. The best way to create a "NEW YOU" is simply to try something new each month. Are you ready to try something new? Join Pampering4life: Try Something New In 2011 Challenge and leave the resolutions behind. Each month discover a new adventure by making small changes which will generate big results and before you know it. You will be trending on a new year, new you. Go to http://www.pampering4life.com to sign up now! You will be glad you did.
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