Why I don't make New Years Resolutions

In the past few days a bunch of people have asked me "what's your New Year's Resolution?" to which I always reply, "I don't believe in them."

Most argue for resolutions. Don't you believe in self improvement (I do)? Don't you want to start the new year off right (who doesn't?)? So why don't I believe in New Year's Resolutions?

In short, I am not a big fan of committing to forever to anything. Life is too dynamic, there are too many moving parts and there's too much going on for me to say I will NEVER do this or will ALWAYS do that. And once you've blown your New Year's Resolution you're a failure, or at least that's how you feel. That's why resolutions tend to taper off around the third week of January.

Instead, I like to commit each day when I wake up. And hell, sometimes I can't even commit to a day. Sometimes I have to commit to a moment. This morning, for instance, I woke up resolved to eat a healthy breakfast. And I did. And now I resolve to get some activity in and I believe I will.

But I can't say I'll never eat ice cream or a cookie again. I can't say I'll exercise six days a week because it's very likely I won't. I can't resolve I'll take all my vitamins every day (although I should I just can't guarantee that I will). What I can do, however, is resolve to one thing in this moment and then work at doing it.

So THAT, my beautiful OH friends, is why I do not believe in New Year's Resolutions.

 I feel exactly the same Nik,I have never been one to make them either just as you say live life day by day!! 

Ditto. I have goals but I don't make "resolutions". I also don't wait for the new year to make them. Resolutions work for some people, just not for me. They're too easily made and then broken/forgotten.

I always make the same resolution each year.  I quite smoking 25 yrs ago and my resolution each yr is not to stsrt smoking.  I know thats 1 real resolution I can keep each yr.    :)

I don't make what I would consider "Real" resolutions. I have set the goal of walking / running 12 5ks this year. I had planned that when I had surgery though.
Also to spend as many weekends as possible camping on horseback (actually the reason I decided to pursue WLS), go to a waterpark and RIDE (another reason for WLS).....I guess the only thing that could be considered a "resolution" is to work on relationships - family, friends and God

I agree.  I also do not make New Year's resolutions.

One of the things we learned about when I was getting my counseling degree was the stages of readiness for change.  Resolving to do something differently -- to make a change -- when the impetus is only because of what the calendar says is doomed to failure, because the person making the resolution is not really ready to change.  If they were, they probably would have already implemented the change.  Now, that is not to say that situations do not exist where the person is already at a point where he is ready to change and just takes advantage of the new year as a convenient time to implement it, but those instances are rare.

Lora

I think we all made the ultimate resolution when we decided to have surgery and commit to a healthier lifestyle.  I like to take this time of year to reflect on last year's progress and decide if there is anything I would like to tweak.  I asked for a yoga mat for Christmas, because I would like to try taking a yoga class.  I signed up to volunteer at our local theatre, because I would like to meet more people.  I'm just looking for small ways to slowly add balance to my life and take advantage of the gifts this surgery has brought me. :-)