Well I do and don’t . I figure every day is the start of a new year. But since this day is celebrated globaly, it might give me more of an incentive
I don’t know., Any of you have New Years resolutions?
I do make resolutions but because I have a tendency to become obsessive about things, I try to not tie my resolutions to quantities: e.g., “work on clearing out the clutter” instead of “throw away 10 items every day.”
last year I said I would make 2 new friends and learn Mah Jongg.
I did. Not close friends but 3 nice women.
This year I want to meet a woman or a couple to be good friends with…let you know in a year.
I do. More along the lines of “shed a few responsibilities” although sometimes something like “have friends over for dinner once a month”.
My resolution is to continue eating healthy and practicing yoga, two things I started Labor Day and had managed to stick to for the four months leading up to the holidays. Unfortunately, the last two or three weeks I’ve gotten off track. It felt really good while I was doing it and I think I built up some good habits, now to push through and get back to it.
I make a list of “goals” rather than resolutions. In my case they are mostly fitness related.
This year my fitness goals are to increase my running/walking miles and train for/run a 10K.
I’m a teacher. For me, the time for resolutions is Labor Day, not New Years. Labor Day is when the rhythm of my house-- with 3 students and 2 teachers-- changes.
Someone at work is starting a Weight Watchers group at school. I think I’ll join, because the opportunity is right there. Though, given my druthers, I would do it over the summer, when carbs don’t call out to me the way they do in the cold.
Beyond that, though, nope.
Inspired by FallGirl and Bromfield2, I am going to try and do 12 yoga classes this year. I need to. Who knows, I might do more!
I’m extra-inspired, because I’ve seen what you guys already do on the diet/fitness thread!
Resolving to add more whole foods plant based meals to the rotation and to check out the yoga, pilates, and barre classes at our fitness center after the other NY resolution peeps have abandoned theirs (February?).
Also resolved to try to be kinder and more grateful.
Each year I make goals around fitness and generally don’t follow through. A little over a year ago I started working out with a trainer 2x a week. My goals/resolutions this year are to do 10-15 minutes a day of stretching or other exercises that I do with my trainer on the days I don’t see her. It’s so attainable but it’s so easy to not do it.
I’m also trying to follow a skin regimen and, again, it’s so easy to not follow through but I know I’d appreciate the benefits if I’d be more diligent so that’s a second one.
And, like @yauponredux, the new year is a good time to remind myself to (always) be kinder and more grateful.
I don’t usually, but I’ve been in Weight Watchers lately, and that’s a crowd that tends toward resolutions, so I’m feeling inspired.
Mine has to do with housework. I have a tendency to let it get away from me instead of keeping up with it, and then I find myself with a messy house and an inordinate amount to do at one time. I’m trying to figure out some steps to prevent this – which will probably include a weekly house patrol to deal with things while they’re still manageable.
I remember when we had little kids and it was daily house patrol!
I also always set fitness goals. This year I’m starting out with a 6 month goal rather than a yearly goal - I think the shorter time will make me more accountable from the start. I’ll start a second goal in July.
I listen to the Happier (by Gretchen Rubin) podcast. They suggested instead of NY resolutions to make a “Happier 2018” list of 18 things you will focus on this year. Just things you want to check off a list. Not likely major life changes (“I want to lose 50 pounds!”) but more of a focus on “things that will make your life happier”
Things like:
Buy flowers weekly to cheer up kitchen
Keep a plant alive indoors
Call Mom twice a week instead of once (this will make Mom happier!)
Take 15 minutes at lunch at work to read a magazine
If you search #happierpodcast or #18in2018 on Instagram for other examples. I’m still making my list. 
^ I like that @abasket !
^^^ They suggest posting it on the refrigerator or somewhere where you can be reminded of these “happy” to-do’s. I have to say, I’m on board for happiness!!
Well, I’m 17, but I’m bored, so… these are mine:
- Get mile run down to 7:00 flat (currently 9-9:30)
- Distance: Sustain 9:00/mile pace for an hour (12/mile as of Oct, haven't run for an hour since)
- Get BMI down to 20-21 (currently 24) - basically lose 20 lbs
- Develop a closer relationship with my sister (albert69, no longer on here)
- Make at least 1-2 new friends
One year I decided to give up guilt. It worked. I stayed mindful and used self talk.
It was an interesting exercise and I am the better for it.
I don’t usually make resolutions but I also picked up on something someone said.
Try to do things that make you happy instead of trying to make the people around you happy. I do that a lot, try and make everyone around me happy without thinking of myself. And if I’m happy, the people around me are happy too. Right?
Also try and schedule a vacation this year, H is terrible about taking time off and therefore ate a ton of vacation. I think everyone needs to get away and visiting my mom is not a vacation (sorry H). So I need to figure something out for us to do and not just visit family which is what we fall back on.
@deb922 my H and I are planning our third once a year getaway weekend this spring. We figured out that three nights is long enough to feel relaxed, and seems less stressful to plan for.
We pick an inexpensive cabin, try to drive only a couple of hours away, and do not overschedule activities. Just relaxing down time, strolling through a small downtown area, or walking to a waterfall, watching a movie, or just getting to see the stars in the sky.
If we had waited to take a whole week of vacation, or picked a far away place, or tried to make it “over the top” special, it would not have happened.
I encourage you to just do something, anything, and now is the time to turn in vacation requests at work!
Last year’s goal (in response to Oscar’s so White) was to see more movies with African American directors and AA cast members who weren’t just side kicks. I saw a lot of really great movies.
This year I want to track my reading and to read more internationally. A facebook friend has a list that I think is a good starting point.
I’m also going to repeat last year’s resolve to get more involved politically. I did a little last year, but not nearly enough. So much of the important work is outside of my comfort zone, but I think it’s vitally important.
@abasket- nice ideas
I don’t normally make resolutions but a few years back I came to the conclusion that I was spending to much of my energy trying to make the other members of my family happy. My health and happiness wasn’t anywhere on my radar. I made a resolution that I was going to turn my children’s lives over to them. That the only life I had any control over was my own.
Changes I’ve made and continue to expand on- saying what I want. I’m working on eliminating the answer of “I don’t care” out of my response library. If I want something I can’t expect people to read my mind.
Goals this year are to work on speaking up when my D says something that I feel is unkind. To further work on not being a dumping ground when one of my kids is upset. Increasing honest communication with one of my kids.
Health wise- try a new exercise class. Last year I made that decision last January and tried Nia dance. At first I was super awkward but it was fun and good for my body. I’m still not a dancer but I’ve improved. I also tried a weight strengthening class and more recently Pilates. I always considered myself unathletic, my nickname growing in high school and college was the 100 lb weakling. I’ve discovered I may not be the most athletic but that doesn’t matter and I’m not a weakling. Continue on the healthier food choice wagon I started this year.