Get healthy? Lose weight? Work less? Play more?
It's hard to pass from one year to the next without taking stock of what you liked and didn't like about the prior year. And often, those things you didn't like get turned into resolutions.
The United States government has a list of popular resolutions. Things like drinking less alcohol, getting a better education or job, quitting smoking and saving money are on there—as is volunteering to help others.
In January 2012, Time magazine put together another list: Commonly broken resolutions. And the lists look pretty similar. Time's list includes losing weight, learning something new, volunteering and drinking less.
Statistic Brain compiled some New Year's Resolution stats. It seems 45 percent of Americans usually make resolutions, and another 17 percent infrequently does—but only 8 percent achieve them. And most of them are probably in their 20s. Of people in that decade, 39 percent achieve their resolution each year. That drops for the over-50 crowd to 14 percent.
Not sure what your resolution should be? Check out this fun resolution generator.
... in 2014
I love to watch our little "Napoleon" on Channel 25. I wonder if he uses a pillow to make him look taller in his high chair.
I will not sit in my living room all day in my underpants. Instead, I will move my computer into the bedroom. I will no longer waste my time reliving the past, instead I will spend it worrying about the future. I will do less laundry and use more deodorant. I will avoid taking a bath whenever possible and conserve more water. I resolve to work with neglected children -- my own. I will spend less than one hour a day on the Internet. This, of course, will be hard to estimate since I'm not a clock watcher. I will think of a password other than "password." I will not tell the same story at every get together. I will grow my hair. I will stop considering other people's feelings when they so obviously don't consider mine - if that unwashed fellow sits next to me again, I'll tell him he stinks! I will spend more time watching TV / movies. I will read less. I want to gain weight. Put on at least 130 pounds. I will stop exercising. Waste of time. Procrastinate more. Drink. Drink some more. Start being superstitious. And take up a new habit: Maybe smoking!
2. Make this the year of terrifying organization. Adjust or get out of the way. 3. Make this the year of positive change.