Whether you love or hate New Year’s resolutions, there’s no better time than the start of a new year for a fresh start. Be it a personal goal, business goal, or lifestyle change, this might be the perfect time to embark on something new. Perhaps a fitness regime, healthier food choices, or fulfilling your sense of wanderlust with travel plans.
Named after the Roman god Janus, it’s no coincidence that January is symbolic of new chapters. A two-faced Roman god, imagined with one face looking forward and the other simultaneously looking back, Janus is the guardian of gates and doors. Representative of beginnings and endings, he characterizes our ability to start something new while acknowledging the past. But whether you’re setting life-changing goals or just starting the new year with a healthy dose of positivity, it’s no secret that there are well-documented benefits to planning ahead.
Long-term positivity: Research shows that New Year’s resolutions are a great strategy for achieving a happier, more balanced outlook on life. When you’re moving forward with clear direction, you’re making a positive contribution to your emotional and mental health.
More motivation: Reaching personal goals and breaking barriers can also help build self-confidence and further your motivation. When you overcome obstacles and achieve something you find significant, your brain responds by triggering the release of dopamine. The sense of pride we feel when we meet goals, be they incremental or monumental, fills us with the confidence to keep going and achieve more.
A sense of community: One of the best parts of starting a new resolution in January is that there’s likely to be a community of people doing the same. You have support and encouragement from others setting their own personal goals, which can help you achieve your own.
Looking for inspiration?
A study by Statista showed that some of the most common New Year’s resolutions take the form of exercise and fitness goals, eating healthier, weight loss, money management, and certain lifestyle changes relating to alcohol, social media consumption, and smoking.
One of the biggest changes someone might wish to make is to quit smoking. It’s a well-known fact that smoking causes harm, but the reason smoking is so detrimental to our health is widely misunderstood. There are more than 6,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, around 100 of which have been identified by public health authorities as harmful or potentially harmful. Many believe nicotine presents the greatest health risk, but while it is addictive and not risk-free, it is not the primary cause of smoking-related diseases. Smoke produced as a result of combustion is.
Go smoke-free this new year
The best decision is always to quit cigarettes and nicotine altogether, and each year, from the start of the new year and beyond, millions successfully do. (Seek help from a medical professional or local stop smoking support service for advice and support on quitting—they will help you find a plan that works best for you.)
Of course, quitting cigarettes is a personal and unique challenge, and not everyone succeeds first time. Those adults who choose not to quit and continue to smoke may want to explore the science and innovation and innovation behind smoke-free alternatives in more detail. Products like e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches, while still addictive and not risk-free, are a better alternative for adults than continuing to smoke.
The fundamental difference between smoke-free products and cigarettes is that smoke-free alternatives deliver nicotine without combustion or burning. When the burning process and subsequent smoke are removed, the levels of harmful and potentially harmful chemicals can be significantly reduced compared with cigarette smoke. It’s important to remember that smoke-free products are intended for adults, as alternatives to continued smoking. They are not intended to be cessation products that assist with quitting.
Whatever your motivation for setting a resolution, the decision to quit cigarettes leads to a richer life in more ways than one. With the right support, you can plan for a brighter future free from cigarettes.
Brought to you by Philip Morris Misr
