Timeless Resolutions: Londoners’ New Year Pledges Through Ages

The article delves into the enduring tradition of New Year's resolutions among Londoners, demonstrating that the pursuit of self-improvement at the year's outset is a practice spanning centuries. Resolutions are characterized as good intentions typically aimed at curbing negative habits like excessive drinking, swearing, or unkindness, or fostering a more disciplined and positive lifestyle.

Historical figures offer insights into both the benefits and inherent challenges of these annual pledges. Samuel Pepys, in 1661-1662, famously resolved to forgo wine and theatre, motivated by a yearning for a more “wholesome lifestyle” and concerns about “spiralling cost of living.” Despite admitting to “intermissions,” Pepys ultimately deemed his efforts a “huge success,” crediting these oaths for his “present content” and planning their renewal. This highlights the personal satisfaction and perceived advantages of self-control, even when perfect adherence proves elusive.

Conversely, Virginia Woolf, in 1931, presented a unique approach, resolving to have “none” to be “free & kindly” with herself, suggesting that the pressure of traditional resolutions could be counterproductive. Her “resolutions” focused on self-compassion, private pursuits, and avoiding self-goading. Other examples include Charles Dickens's “unbridled optimism” for 1836, James Agate's conditional 1942 vow to avoid “unwitty, unkind things,” and a 1959 Londoner's candid admission that her resolution to stop swearing would likely fail due to “trying office life.” These diverse accounts collectively underscore the universal human struggle with discipline, the varied motivations behind resolutions, and the common risk of non-adherence, often influenced by external pressures or a desire for personal liberation.

(Source: https://londonist.com/london/history/london-s-new-year-s-resolutions-throughout-the-centuries)