Searching through Google
sites I learned that 4,000 years ago the Babylonians started their year off by
making a resolution. They believed if they honoured their goal, good fortune
would follow them throughout the year. A typical resolution back then would be
to pay off a debt or return borrowed farm equipment.
Probably
not quite this modern
Current
resolutions typically involve exercise, weight loss and saving money.
Well darn it all.
My 2025 resolution doesn’t fit any of those categories. The only reason I even
chose to make one this year is because I have a bad habit and I’m ashamed
of it.
Back to Google to do research on the success rate of keeping a New
Year’s resolution. Brace yourself. It’s dismal. One site states 88% of
people fail within the first two weeks. That bit of information was almost
enough to stop me from even attempting to start mine, but I love a challenge
My bad habit started innocently enough many months ago when the quiet ping
from my iPhone, sitting on the kitchen counter, caught my attention while I was
on the way to the bathroom. I grabbed it because it could be an important message. So, I read it while I was on
the toilet. It wasn’t important. But I sent a response anyway. How efficient am I?
From then on, I
got in the habit of taking my phone to the bathroom. Every time. In fact, I
would look for it as if my body functions would not co-operate without its
presence.
Not only did I read messages, I checked Facebook, swiped left to
Instagram, scrolled news articles and I even read emails. Bathroom breaks took
longer but I felt quite clever with my multi-tasking efficiency. Plus, I was
keeping on top of all that was happening with friends and strangers, globally
and locally.
In the middle of December,
I responded, from the throne, to an email. I used full paragraph format,
correct salutation and even added a P.S. That’s when I realized I had a problem. I may even have glanced over my shoulder to be sure no one saw
where I’d sent the email from.
If
phones were still this big, it would never have become an issue
Who did I think I
was? And when did I think my life was so busy, I needed to respond to friend’s
messages and scroll social media in the bathroom. I will admit here and now
that I did not ever participate in this activity in a public washroom.
Eww, the germs in there.
Hence, my New Year’s
Resolution evolved.
I Googled do
people text while on the toilet? Surveys say 75% of people admit to texting
while on the toilet. Phew. What a relief. The old saying ‘misery loves company’
is applicable here and now.
In order to break
my habit, I knew I had to be held accountable.
I told my husband,
“My New Year’s resolution is to not use my phone in the bathroom. No more
texting or reading emails. Nothing. I’m quitting cold turkey.”
“You text in the
bathroom?” he said. “Really?” And he walked away without saying another word. I
think I’ve mentioned he’s a wise man.
To ensure success
with my resolution, I practiced a few days at the end of December. I was
confident it would be super easy to stop. But it wasn’t. I argued with myself
to leave my phone in the kitchen. My husband would smile at me when I was
successful. Other times, when the power of missing out on something took
hold, he looked the other way.
Now, here I am, ten
days into the New Year and I can guarantee that no phone use is happening
in my bathroom. I have five days left to beat Google’s failure rate and hopefully continue on
from there till the end of the year. Yes, I’ll admit I have been tempted but so far I haven’t
caved. I’ve also noticed the baseboards in my bathroom could use a paint touch
up and the ceramic tile floor needs buffing. I'll add those tasks to my things to do list.
Regardless,
whether you made a resolution, I wish all the best for 2025 and may the year be
kind to everyone.
Baker, Barbara - BWL
Publishing Inc. (bookswelove.net)
bbaker.write@gmail.com
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