The History of New Year's Resolutions

In ancient Rome Julia Caesar was the one who decided that the New Year would be January 1st and this was around 46 BC. In Roman culture Janus was thought to look backwards into the past year and head into the future because he has two faces. Our more modern conception of New Year's resolutions came in 1740 when English clergyman John Wesley created the covenant renewal service which was held on either New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. So despite resolutions having religious roots like all of these examples are like religious or spiritual roots. Most people's New Year's resolution are now promises to themselves instead of to the gods and focus mainly on self-improvement.