One of the most enduring of New Year’s Eve traditions is making resolutions. Another is abandoning them a few months later.
We asked Patch readers who keep their resolutions how they did it and what advice they have for people who want to keep their promises to themselves in 2025.
A new Associated Press-NORC poll shows about half of U.S. adults plan to make a resolution for 2025. Millennials and Gen Z are especially likely to to make resolutions, with about two-thirds of them expecting to do so, and women are more likely than men to set a goal for 2025, according to the poll.
About 3 in 10 adults make New Year’s resolutions involving exercise or eating healthier. About a quarter resolve to lose weight, and a similar number plan to make charges around money management or mental health, according to the AP-NORC poll.
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Gail, a Framingham (Massachusetts) Patch reader who responded to our informal survey, is among Americans who have set weight-loss goals. Gail’s goal was to maintain a 60-pound weight loss for the next year, which she was able to accomplish through meal planning and regular physical activity.
“Don’t make too many changes in the beginning. Work the changes in gradually,” Gail said, adding, “Setbacks happen. Plan and move forward.”
The key to making a New Year’s resolution to lose weight is to make it realistic, said Patch reader Judy. Her goal for both 2023 and 2024 was to lose 20 pounds.
“I decided 20 pounds didn’t sound unrealistic, and I ate all the same foods, but less of them,” Judy said. “I decided the way to go for me was not denial but moderation.”
The strategy has worked. Judy lost 20 pounds in 2023 and 22 pounds in 2024. She did encounter a setback or two. But, she said, “I told myself I was doing good and a setback was not going to derail the whole year.”
“If no one persevered after a setback, we’d live in a far different world,” said Junie, a Woodbury (Minnesota) Patch reader. “The key is to not put so much weight on setbacks and to realize everyone has ‘off’ days. It doesn’t mean your streak is broken and you should give up.”
If a setback is enough to derail a resolution, “maybe it wasn’t a good resolution for you, or perhaps not the right time,” Junie said. “If you truly want it, you’ll make it happen and setbacks won’t bother you.”
Pam, a Geneva (Illinois) Patch reader, resolved about two decades ago to quit drinking and has been sober for almost 19 years. The support at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings from people who understood her struggles was crucial, she said.
“Have a plan. Find like-minded people to support your goal with you,” Pam said. “Fellowship is everything.”
Karen, who reads Greenwich Patch and Danbury Patch, both in Connecticut, kept her resolution to quit smoking.
Once she quit, she was done with smokes. Karen said she powered through cravings “by doing or thinking about something else.” Her desire to succeed was strong because of the years it will add to her life.
“Think of a resolution that will make your health better,” Karen said.
Maple Grove (Minnesota) Patch reader Jon wanted to get out of debt. He realized he couldn’t do it alone and took an accountability-focused online course that offered a structured plan to pay off debt and build wealth
One thing he learned is to “find opportunity in a setback — to learn, adapt and grow.”
“Stick to your plan and if you miss or skip, work toward getting back on track,” he said.
Across America Patch reader Nicole resolved last New Year’s Eve to randomly hand our $20 a week to strangers. That amounts to about $240 a year, an amount Nicole said is in her family’s budget.
“When I missed a week, I doubled up the next week,” Nicole said. “I’m closer to $750 than $240 for the year because a few times, I’ve been in line behind someone who can’t cover their groceries or pay for their gas. A goal like this needs to be flexible enough to meet whatever needs arise.”
Her advice to people with similar resolutions is to avoid judgment and religious proselytizing and see it as an act of altruism that doesn’t require public recognition or even a thank-you.
“Do this for the pure charity of it. It’s not about you, but the lives your selfless contributions touch,” said Nicole. “This exercise has made me acutely aware that there are a lot of people out there who are just getting by, or aren’t getting by, and those of us who can help should.”
Nicole expects to continue handing out $20 bills in 2025, even if her husband isn’t completely on board.
“He thinks people see me as an easy mark and take advantage of me, and that I’m supplying drunks and addicts with alcohol and drugs. I ask him why it’s so terrible to help someone get through another night on the street with whatever it takes, no strings attached. Of course, I would prefer they would use the money for food, but I am not living that person’s life,” Nicole said. “We agree to disagree, as long as I don’t give away the kids’ college funds.”
When setting resolutions, identifying the rewards of the goal is a good first step, said Victoria, who reads Upper East Side Patch and Gramercy-Murray Hill Patch in New York City.
Her goal was to read 10 books in 2024. “I kept track on the Apple books app and picked up some interesting books,” said Victoria, who later adjusted her goal periodically to reflect the difficulty level and time required to read the books she had chosen.
Patch reader Debra set a small, achievable goal to “always bring a stray shopping cart into the store upon my arrival.” It’s something she started doing on Jan 1, 2022, and has kept her word to herself since.
Doylestown (Pennsylvania) Patch reader Mary’s resolution was to stop cursing. She had setbacks but renewed her commitment to the goal once whatever it was that provoked the obscenity had passed.
A Shelton-Derby (Connecticut) Patch reader thinks the mistake with most New Year’s resolutions is they’re made on the fly.
“It’s like an impulse purchase you regret the minute you paid for it with no way to return it,” the reader said. “Make it mean something and not just, ‘Oh well, it’s New Year’s, gotta come up with something.’ ”
Junie, the Woodbury Patch reader, agrees.
“I’ve never been a fan of New Year’s resolutions because I think you can resolve to do something any day of the year,” Junie said. “Why do you have to wait for a new year to do it? Oftentimes, I think people feel pressured into making one and that’s part of why they tend to not stick.
“I’ve never met anyone who has actually kept their New Year’s resolutions for even an entire year, let alone permanently,” Junie continued, explaining, “However, I do know people who have made resolutions at other times of the year and have made good life changes they are able to adhere to.”
Junie’s advice? “Don’t pressure yourself to be on society’s timeline.”
“Years ago I resolved to stop making New Year’s resolutions,” said Patch reader Ellen. “I decided I can work on improvement any time of year and did not want to begin the new year with a focus on what is usually a negative behavior.”
The best part? “No resolutions, no setbacks! It’s a positive win,” Ellen said, adding, “Be kind to yourself. You are just trying to get through life the best you can.”
“Don’t make them in the first place,” said Wendy, who reads Milford Patch and Shelton-Derby Patch, both in Connecticut. “Just live your life to the best of your ability.
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