Americans rarely keep their New Year’s resolutions. Gym memberships lapse, fast food is too tempting, and there’s never enough time to volunteer.
But self-improvement shouldn’t always require Herculean willpower.
Here are 5 common New Year’s resolutions and how a DNA test can help you keep them – for real this time.
Try New Things
Ready to get out of your comfort zone in 2017?
An AncestryDNA test is a chance to try something different. With just a few drops of saliva, you’ll be off on an adventure.
The service analyzes your DNA to reveal your ethnic mix and compares it with the more than 7 million people who have taken the test.
Prepare for some surprises: You may find a third cousin living nearby or a celebrity in your family tree. The test has even connected long-lost siblings separated by adoption.
Whatever the result, you’ll start the new year with a deeper understanding of where you come from.
Spend More Time With Family
Looking to spend more quality time with the fam?
An AncestryDNA test be a great conversation starter at the dinner table. And revealing your results together can be a fun family activity.
It connects relatives who have little else in common, reminding them of their shared heritage. You can use it as a way to talk with a reticent father about his childhood or take the test with your kids.
Siblings can place bets on how their genetic makeup compares, like who has the most Irish or Native American heritage.
Learn Something New
Want to learn something new about yourself in 2017?
People often hope to learn new things in the new year, whether by reading more or taking a class. An AncestryDNA test is like a science, history, and geography course in one.
Dig into the records on Ancestry.com to find stories about your family, such as a newspaper article on a jailbird great-uncle or a book about a relative’s village in Ireland.
These anecdotes give texture to history and connect us with the past. They can also teach us a few things about ourselves.
Travel
Could 2017 be your year for travel?
If you’re one of the many people who has resolved to travel more in the coming year, an AncestryDNA test will help devise a meaningful itinerary.
Its technology identifies which of 350+ regions around the world your ancestors may have come from Polynesia to Scandinavia. The discovery of Iberian and North African heritage may inspire a trip to Andalucía or give you an excuse to visit Moroccan souks.
Pair this information with the historical database on Ancestry.com for even more precise information, such as a great-grandparent’s birthplace, which will guide you to small towns off the tourist trail.
Live Life to the Fullest
Who doesn’t want to live life to the fullest?
According to Nielsen, one of the most popular new year’s resolutions is to lead a full, exciting life.
It’s a goal with a range of meanings, like always saying yes to interesting opportunities or finding meaning in the everyday routine.
However you define it, learning about your family story checks all the boxes.
An AncestryDNA test promises to make 2017 a year like no other. Get started with an AncestryDNA kit today.