How to Tackle Your New Year’s Resolutions Colonial-Style

If you’re like most Americans, there’s a good chance you’ll have at least one New Year’s resolution this January. I mean, it’s hard not to get just a little inspired at the thought of a fresh new year—isn’t it? And statistically speaking, we tend to get inspired about similar things. Lose weight. Save Money. Manage stress. Sound familiar?

History.com tells us the idea of New Year’s resolutions isn’t very new at all. In fact, the tradition is thought to be more than 4,000 years old, originating with ancient Babylonians. And yet, despite our lengthy history and best intentions, come February most of us are back to our old, uninspired ways. Here we often ask ourselves, “What would our founding fathers do?” We can’t know for sure, but we are here to help with Colonial Williamsburg-style solutions to seven of the most popular New Year’s resolutions out there.

#1 Lose Weight & Get Fit

Get an annual pass to CW and make your vacations walking ones! Here’s your challenge this year: see all our historic trades, tour all our buildings and art museums, play RevQuest: Save the Revolution!, and meet all our cats. Looking to get in your daily activity? We estimate a day in the Revolutionary City to be anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 steps. Strap on your favorite fitness tracker, and let us know! (Or, check out this Colonial Workout video.)

#2 Save Money

Your “walk back in time” does not have to break the bank. Stay tuned for our big list of money-saving tips (including tickets, hotels, and travel) coming next week!

#3 Get a better Education

Vow to never stop learning or asking questions. Attend a new event. Or, subscribe to our blog and we promise to have monthly historic fun facts and features on historic trades sent directly to your inbox.

#4 Manage Stress

Disconnect. Put down your phone. Grab your best friend, your mom, your wife, your husband, or your kids. Get outside and explore our city. Golf more your style? A spa treatment? We have those, too! One walk through the Governor’s Palace gardens and you’ll feel all your cares melt away.

#5 Take a Trip

Well, this one is easy. Come see us! If you haven’t been here since your fourth grade field trip (or even if you have) things have changed. There’s always something new going on—and this guy will tell you all about it.

#6 Volunteer to Help Others

If you’re looking to give back and help preserve our beautiful city, every donation counts! The simplest way? Turn on Amazon Smile while you’re online shopping and you’ll be supporting Colonial Williamsburg without even knowing it.

#7 Reduce, Reuse & Recycle

Did you know the Revolutionary City is a self-sustaining one? Our tradespeople make each brick, repair the wheels on the carriages, and our chefs even pull produce directly from our gardens to inspire meals. Come see us and we promise to teach you a thing or two about going “green.”

Thanks to all our Instagram fans who are featured in this post! Use #colonialwilliamsburg and next time we may feature you.

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? If so, what are they? Do you plan to come visit us in 2015?