Should You Make New Year’s Resolutions?

Posted byVanya Wryter ConsultingPosted inLifestyleTags:, , , , , ,

Do you believe that a new year brings a new you? Some people make New Year’s resolutions and set new goals for the new year. January 1st is a reminder to turn over a new leaf and to make a list of self-improvement goals. And for some ambitious people who like New Year’s resolutions, the first of January is a time to reflect on the past year and see how many of their resolutions from the past year were achieved.

Now, if you’re one of those who cringes when you think of the resolutions that you abandoned in the first months or (gasp) the first month of the outgoing year, you’re pretty normal. According to the Pew Research Center, at the start of 2024, “Of the 70% of Americans who did not make any New Year’s resolutions this year, a majority (56%) say their main reason for not doing so is they simply do not like to make resolutions.”

In the same survey, the Pew Research Center found that “Three-in-ten Americans report making at least one resolution this year, with half of this group making more than one.” The numbers aren’t high. 

I used to make a list of ten New Year’s resolutions in January, and in December of that year, I was usually dismayed to find that perhaps only three of the ten items were completed and maybe an additional two were started and not finished. Perhaps I set the bar too high for myself. Or maybe I needed to review that list more often than twice a year. After a few years of making resolutions, I quit. They weren’t lists of resolutions. They were lists of dreams!

If you can make New Year’s resolutions and accomplish them in twelve months, that’s amazing! I’ve found it more practical to make a weekly to-do list. Maybe it’s the same thing, but the terminology (“to-do”) certainly seems less intimidating. Stuff that you just have to do is more bite-sized than Resolutions that have a vow-taking status.

Thanks for reading this post!

15 thoughts on “Should You Make New Year’s Resolutions?”

  3. Happy New Year to you.

    Resolutions do help however I’ve noticed that its more encouraging when I actually do the work. most times I will slack within the year and find that I forgot my goals. the lesson is to remain intentional. Thank you for the beautiful post.

    Happy 2025

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  5. I completely agree with you! Instead of new year resolutions, I’ll try this year for my monthly purposes. Less intimidating. I remember when I tried it once, some years ago, I had more results than new year resolutions.

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