The Origins of New Year’s Resolutions

January is traditionally a time when we make New Year’s resolutions, whether that’s to adopt a healthier lifestyle, take up a new hobby or give up an old habit. But where does this tradition come from? And why do we make our resolutions in January?

The origins of New Year’s resolutions are believed to date back 4,000 years ago to the Ancient Babylonians. Their New Year began not in January, but in mid-March, which coincided with the start of the farming season. At this time, they celebrated the festival of Akitu when they would make vows to their gods, such as promising to repay debts or return borrowed goods. The hope was that the gods would look favourably on them in the following year. Unlike today’s resolutions, which are more about self-improvement, these promises were focused on moral duty and social order.

Caesar’s calendar reform

The ancient Romans also had an influence on the New Year’s resolutions that we make today. In 46BC, Julius Caesar reformed the calendar so that it began in January. The name of the month was inspired by Janus, the two-faced god who looked both forward and backwards. In keeping with this theme, the Romans celebrated the New Year by reflecting on their past actions and pledging good intentions to the gods for the coming year.

Following the spread of Christianity, New Year’s resolutions took on a religious focus. During medieval times, the New Year was viewed as a time for confessing one’s sins, asking for divine forgiveness and saying prayers. The emphasis was less on self-improvement and more on spiritual renewal. But the notion of the New Year as a time to take stock and pause for self-reflection was becoming firmly established.

Goal setting and personal development

The goal setting and personal development that we associate with the New Year is believed to originate during the Enlightenment, in the late 17th and 18th centuries. Increasingly, people began to see the potential for changing their lives through modifying their behaviour and mindset. This way of thinking gathered pace during the 19th century, when self-improvement literature became popular. Samuel Smiles, the author of the books Self-Help and Character, famously wrote “Heaven helps those who help themselves”. His words sum up the growing shift towards personal responsibility, self-discipline and improving one’s circumstances.

A time of reflection

Throughout history, several famous writers have used the New Year as a time to reflect on the past and plan for the future. During the 1660s, Samuel Pepys recorded his New Year vows in his diary, promising to drink less wine, have fewer late nights and spend less money on going to the theatre. He also wrote about how he failed to keep to his resolutions, expressing remorse and the desire to start afresh.

By the mid-19th century, Charles Dickens was also reflecting on the meaning of the New Year through his letters and essays. For him, it was a time of introspection, hope and new beginnings. In his novella, The Chimes, he wrote: “A new heart for a New Year, always!”

This reflective theme continued into the 20th century. In his diaries and essays, George Orwell viewed the New Year as a time to take stock of his writing and work ethic. He would remind himself to avoid laziness or self-indulgence, to write with clarity and honesty and to remain morally alert in political life.

Making a fresh start

As we hang up our 2026 calendars and look ahead to another year, many of us will be resolving to make changes in our personal and professional lives. In doing so, we are continuing a tradition that began thousands of years ago and which has endured across time. From the ancient Babylonians to the likes of Samuel Pepys and George Orwell, we all feel the impulse to reflect on the past, look to the future and make a fresh start.