I've never made a real New Year's Resolution, I've always thought they were just dumb. My reasoning was that people can improve themselves whenever.
But, that's all about to change this year.
It just so happened to be Dec 25th when I decided that I needed to work in Photoshop every day, and learn something new, or understand something better each day. Since it was so close to the new year, I decided to make it my resolution...
I still voted no though, because if it wasn't so close I still wouldn't have made one.

Pirate-M.Lifnen

I've only got one New Year's resolution. It's 1024 x 768.

dbarak

Being a student, if i make resolutions, they tend to be made around september or may. new years is time to party and forget!

graybird

I stopped making resolutions a few years ago. Instead I draft a sort of list of good ideas that I could work on. I find that a "resolution" is too much like work, and that making a list of things that I want to work gets me thinking about what about my life I would like to change. Then I sit and think through just what it would take to accomplish them. That usually sets me up for things that I would like to do, that I think I could actually do.

Then I go find a party and have a good time.

Badger

A subtle point: I think of resolutions as broad statements that are hard to measure. Like: I'm going to loose weight or even I'm going to loose 10 pounds, or I'm going to eat better.

So, I don't make resolutions but I do set goals.

I want to start weight lifting workouts again so I have a goal of doing 30 weight lifting workouts between Jan 1 and March 31. I want to complete 6 paintings so I've signed up for a week long studio retreat.

jim

I'm like JIM. I don't set Resolutions, I set goals. I look at what I did over the last year, and figure what I want to improve upon in the next year. I try to pick due dates for them, and treat them as projects (because they are personal projects). If I don't make the goal, that's ok. I usually set them at the beginning of December, and re-evaluate at the end of July (around my birthday).

For example, I'm thinking of getting some computer certs next year to improve my career. More money, new skills, better proof of those skills. Personally I don't like certs, but HR does.

rattis

I find thinking about what I want out of my next unavoidable, especially now with RSS feeds and every blog doing round-ups, recaps and prognosticating. As I get older, I find I make more realistic goals and find much deeper satisfaction at the end of the year by listing things I've accomplished as well.

mahalie

I come up with "resolutions" for myself on a regular basis, not at the beginning of the year...

theorist

My resolution's staying at XGA - I can't afford a new tablet, and my current one can't go any higher than that =P

Back on topic, NY resolutions to me are more like conscious attempts to change old habits. For instance, whenever I have a block of free time I'd tend to find a quiet corner somewhere to read or catch up with my feeds.

This year I resolve to talk to people more and put a little more effort into maintaining my relationships, so every time I have a block of free time I'll remember this resolution and call people up to meet for coffee instead of reading.

It won't always work; I sometimes forget, but if I didn't make this resolution I'd just be doing what I habitually do, which isn't always the best thing to do.

Of course, you can make these resolutions anytime you want, I just find it convenient to do it together with all the rest of the stuff I do at the end of the year - cleaning up my table, doing all the necessary filing, closing the work year and reflecting on the year that just passed. It brings a very satisfying sense of closure.

kureshii

@dbarak: Oh, live a little! Don't you think it's time for a change? Maybe some 1280 X 1024?

taybay

I do use New Year's as a time for looking back on the past year and looking forward to the next one... but mainly for my finances. I do an annual accounting and set up a budget twice a year, once at New Years, and a checkup over the Fourth of July. (This doesn't mean I don't keep track of my finances monthly or weekly but once a year is my chance to really evaluate everything.)

I've tried doing something like that for other things but they need more frequent checkups and more frequent checkups tend to slip in my calendar. Instead, I just try to find a way to really enjoy exercise (make it a personal challenge), healthy food (find awesome recipes), learning new things (its own reward) so I have no trouble keeping the good habit going.

CWW

I'm with everyone who sets realistic goals throughout the year rather than just some generic resolutions at the end of the year.

alexander

@SA: I concur with SA here. If you are so inclined, make the goals, do what you can to keep them, find ways to monitor your progress, and if you fall behind, get back up on the horse. That's how you make progress in anything.

cdbarker

I love New Year's Resolutions, but I think most people go about them the wrong way. Either they pick something that is too big/small to be achieved in one year, or they don't plan for it. Saying "I'm going to exercise more" is meaningless if you don't have an exercise in mind, the schedule for that exercise, some means of tracking your participation, and all the necessary clothes/equipment.

I have a New Year's Resolution Guide on my blog that focuses on planning for a successful resolution here:

[www.sufficientthrust.com]

Marina @ Sufficient Thrust

I don't see the harm in resolutions. I look at it this way-yes, you can set resolutions or goals anytime during the year, so why can't some start at the beginning of a new year? The main thing is you realize that there is something about yourself that you want to change or there's an activity that you'd love to get in, etc. and you're making the conscientious decision to do it. I hate when people start downing others because they set resolutions. You don't always have to rain on other's parade.

Damn, that sounded a lot like my mother.

SA

If I'm going to set my mind do doing something that really needs to get done, I'm not going to wait for New Year's Day to start doing it.

Perhaps the phrase "New Years Resolution" is imbued with some sort of do-it magic for some people, but not for me.

"Nothing changes
on New Year's Day..."

Talthybius

I have kept every New Year's resolution I have ever made since 1989, when I resolved to not make any more New Years resolutions.

arcticJKL

@taybay: I wish I could. Stuck at dbarak's resolution (maximum screen size). :( Laptop LCD...

Oh, and back to the intended point of this thread, I have never made resolutions for the new year, ever. Why bother? Goals are much better, and more specific. When you have a reason to make them (the new year is not a reason in itself).

voyagerfan5761

New Year's resolutions are just a guilt trip. If you can't make a resolution to change/do something any day of the week, making one on New Years day won't help you.

Jamez

Make it interesting, avoid the big 3.

Do NOT resolve to lose weight/go to the gym/eat healthier. That is so cliche that the home fitness industry has evolved around it (sign up now! January specials! Because we know you won't be back after February!)

Do NOT resolve to save money. That's just the holiday spending spree talking. You feel guilty and you'll overcompensate in January by penny pinching, and then by mid-year when you're spending normally you'll feel guilty like you're spending too much.

Do NOT resolve to get organized. If you make one concerted effort to organize your life from top to bottom, it'll last a month if you're lucky. Organizing your life is a slow, methodical process that you have to work at every day. it's not something you do and say "woohoo, I did it".

DO resolve to do incremental / relative things. Unlike other times where you want to be organized / productive and you want clearly measurable goals, with resolutions you should go the other way and resolve generic things like "Learn more", "Be more patient", and so on. Because if you resolve something specific and you fail, it'll only bring you down, for no real reason at all (it's not like your job depends on your resolutions). A generic resolution is something you can come back to throughout the year and never feel like you've failed so much that have to give up. I used to resolve to get published. Now, instead, I resolve to improve the quality and content of my blogs.

Duane
[www.connectatcollege.com]

Duane

Yea here.

I set personal goals all the time; the NY resolution is a frivolity to flaunt when someone asks to know it. Last year it was "sleep more" for me. And I did. I win.

Next year will probably be to reduce my vacation balance to less than one week.

cv

You know...the whole "lose weight" thing is interesting. People set their New Years resolutions right after the holidays which usually involves a lot of food (parties, gifts, etc.) during the period from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Some will see weight gain during that period and decide they need to lose weight. Others that are just generally overweight decide to do something about it - either way there are people in both groups that go get gym memberships.

I've had my membership with 24 Hour Fitness for 3 years now - I started it in October of '04 so it wasn't a New Years resolution - and I've gotta say I really dislike all of the New Years people that sign up for new memberships. They fill up the gym for 6 weeks and then disappear forever. I asked the membership guys about that once and they said the average is about 6 weeks for the resolution crowd. There are always a few that stick around but it's a pretty small minority.

Donathius

I promise not to burn down San Diego next year with my mere presence.

Susie Bright

I am resolved to give up smoking. I'm doing it cold turkey this time and everything tells me this is the right time to do this.

Oh, and I'm resolved to practice my Tai Chi regularly.

drum

I think I love you, Susie Bright. If that is your Real Name™.

longbourne

I resolved years ago to no longer make resolutions. Still going strong!

balloondoggle

I make them if I make them. Where's that option?!

PinkNBlack21

Based on a recent post, I'm resolving to have more sex - it's supposed to make me live longer!

drsmith

I love resolutions. To resolve something is very powerful.

Some of you might find my article 4 Steps to Living Your Resolutions helpful.

Happy resolving!

patman

@Susie Bright: LOL!

Gina Trapani, Lifehacker Editor

I propose we start up 'leap year resolutions' That way we can put things off for four years, rather than just one!

jord

The main problem with New Year's resolutions is that they are a distraction. There are usually dozens of things you'd like to do or do differently in the new year. But the more important question is "what do you want to do with your life this coming year?" I suggest people reflect on the question, "How will the world be different as a result of you having lived?" This gets you focused in a deeper and more meaningful way on how you want to spend your time and life. If this was the last year of your life, what would be the one or two resolutions you'd still consider making? I teach a course where we use the maxim, "Mortality is the best therapy." So consider abandoning the diet/fitness/get organized resolutions (go ahead and do that anyway) and devote some planning and reflection on your life's purpose.

Happy New Year to all!

todoinst

If we wanted to do something we could have done it already. We don't need a new year resolution to do that.

grimdeath18

I usually set stuff that I know I can improve.

The whole, work out dealio doesn't work too well for me.

For example: being less cynical. Try to think more positive.

Stuff like that.

The one I set last year I worked at all year, and I can say with definite certaintinty that I'm slightly less of a jerk.

:)

Woodwater

Come to think of it, I don't have new years resolutions, I make daily resolutions...

Shane

I love arbitrary reasons to improve yourself.

I'm not actually being sarcastic.

noftheta