2020 – A New Decade

The countdown is on - it is New Year's Eve (the last day of 2019) and the first day of 2020 and a new decade (New Year's Day) is only a few hours away.

Big Ben in London will strike at midnight welcoming in the new year, after being silent all year for renovation work. The festivities will begin all over the world and in London about 12,000 fireworks will light up the sky.

A new year is a time for new beginnings and when one thinks of the future and all it can and may bring.

What is a New Year's resolution?

It is a tradition where a person decides on something which will change or improve their life.

We've all been there - the old year has come to an end and a new year begins so it is the time to make a New Year's resolution.

The first New Year's resolutions:

The ancient Babylonians were the first people to make New Year's resolutions some 4,000 years ago.

They used to make promises to the gods at the start of a new year in order to win their favour. They would return borrowed objects and pay off debts.

Here are some popular New Year's resolutions:

Lose weight or go on a diet
Stop eating junk food and eat healthily
Do more exercise or join a gym
Save more and spend less
Give up smoking
Drink less alcohol
Eat less chocolate or even give it up
Change job or career
Spend more time with friends and family
Learn a new skill or hobby

The reason why most people fail with their New Year's resolution is that an unrealistic goal is set.

So why do we make New Year’s resolutions every year when so few of us manage to follow them through?

What about considering volunteering or supporting a charity instead of trying to give something up.

This year make a realistic resolution that you can stick to and not make one that you can't live up to.

Or why not start habit tracking:

Break down your big goals into small habits and track them on a daily basis. Monitor small things you do every day to make changes and these will add up to achievable goals, thereby producing changes in your life.

Exercise needs to be done regularly if you want to get fitter and healthier. If you want to publish a novel you need to write a few words every day. Habits are important as they become responsible for changes in our lives.

Some quotes for the New Year:

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow
- Albert Einstein

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream
- C.S Lewis

Take a leap of faith and begin this wondrous new year by believing
- Sarah Ban Breathnach

Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one
- Brad Paisley

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step
- Chinese proverb

So as we look towards 2020 let's make the most of every day whatever we decide to do. Time is precious and life is short, let's not waste time, make every minute count!

Happy New Year everyone!