January Trivia: What Was the Top New Year’s Resolution in 2015?

According to data from Nielsen, in 2015 the top New Year’s Resolution was “Stay fit and eat healthy”.

This tradition of making resolutions at the start of the new year dates back to Babylonian times, 4,000 years ago. They used to ring in the new year with an 11-day festival in March. They would make promises to the gods in hopes they’d earn good favor in the upcoming year.

In 46 B.C., Roman emperor Julius Caesar moved the celebration to Jan. 1^st to recognize the Roman god of beginnings, Janus. The change was hard for many people to accept and so it did not become widely celebrated on January 1^st until Pope Gregory XIII also recognized the 1^st of January as the official day in 1582 in honor of the Gregorian calendar.

Making resolutions is a great way to set goals for yourself for the upcoming year. However, most people do not end up succeeding with their resolutions. Some say the best way to make sure you keep your promises for the upcoming new year, is to make your resolutions public so others can hold you accountable.

According to Nielsen’s reports the top 10 resolutions for 2015 were:

1. Stay fit and healthy
2.  Lose weight
3. Enjoy life to the fullest
4. Spend less, save more
5. Spend more time with family and friends
6. Get organized
7.  They will not make any resolutions
8. Learn something new/new hobby
9.  Travel more
10. Read more

Are any of these on your list for 2016?