Some thoughts on New Year’s Resolutions – But don’t just take my word on it

Hey there, awesome readers.

Right now, you may be thinking, “What did I do?” That’s because it’s January 1^st and just a few short hours ago you were bringing in the New Year with some friends and family members while indulging in a bit (or a lot) of the bubbly. You may even be resolving to “never drink again.”

Of course, changing your mind later today as you put all your hopes into the hair of the dog is always an option. But for now, we’ll go with never again. And that’s okay. The New Year is known for making promises to ourselves that last less than two weeks. According to this Inc.com article, “drink less alcohol” is number nine in a top ten New Year’s Resolutions survey of 2,000 people.

The question is: Do New Year’s Resolutions really work?

Years ago, I had a boss who told me that he wanted to give up smoking so his plans for New Year’s Eve included smoking an entire pack of cigarettes during the final hours leading up to midnight. In his mind, making himself sick from smoking would make it easier to give up the habit.

In theory, it’s a good plan. I said IN THEORY. Most of us are smart enough to know that giving up something as addictive as cigarettes isn’t as easy as smoking our brains out until we want to throw up and then expect ourselves to live happily ever after. That’s just not how bad habits work.

Whether you do the whole “new year, new me” thing with New Year’s Resolutions or not, I can tell you that New Year’s Resolutions can be iffy. They’re a lot like diets in that if you’re cutting out eleventy thousand calories for the next three weeks leading up to your best friend’s wedding, you’ll probably end up putting that weight back on.

This is why I look at New Year’s Resolutions the same way that I would attack a diet: by making choices every day until those choices become a habit – a good habit … a lifestyle. But that’s just my opinion. The good thing about New Year’s Resolutions is that they are based on personal experience and there are as many of those as there are people in this world. Which is why I reached out and asked others what they thought about New Year’s Resolutions.

From podcasters to writers, thought leaders to entrepreneurs, strategists to marketers, following are their thoughts. And for the hyper-analytical, I’ve listed them randomly because I too was into the bubbly last night.

Alain Guillot, Montreal, Canada
Podcaster, Photographer, Speaker, Coach

My resolution is to grow my podcast. I have no control over the outcome, but I can control the input. I am planning to show up every week and produce at least one episode per week.

Emily Bezak, Pittsburgh, USA
Digital Marketing Project Manager, B2B Content Strategist, Freelance Writer

New Year’s Resolutions are one of my favorite rituals. Aside from weight loss, I usually always accomplish my goals. This year, my resolution is to blow-up my website and start a blog to grow my side-hustle, writing, into a business.

Stephanie Steeves, New York City, USA
Global Marketing Director, Champion for Women in Agriculture, Social Media Aficionado

I’ve read that roughly 85% of New Year’s Resolutions fail by February (my memory is foggy on the exact details), so instead I choose a word. I try to learn from the previous year and understand what I need more of in my life. My word for 2020 is balance. Balancing me vs. others, work and family.  

Andreas Babiolakis, Toronto, Canada
Film Archivist, Entertainment Critic, Podcaster, Writer

As a freelancer, I will resolve to not be hard on myself when taking on each challenge at a time. Instead, I will remark on the countless varying accomplishments I’ve made as a whole and recognize that us freelancers are more qualified than we give ourselves credit for. (Now I hope I listen to my own advice in 2020 Haha!)

Elizabeth Di Filippo, Toronto, Canada
Lifestyle Editor – Yahoo Canada Style

I’m not really one for New Year’s Resolutions, but I do enjoy taking a year-end inventory. I’d rather give thanks to the person the past 365 days have allowed me to become, rather than begin the New Year with a to-do list. 

Lisa McKenzie, Montreal, Canada
Social Marketing Strategist, Speaker, Social Media Teacher, Founder of Blissonomics

Resolutions always felt like something I was giving up rather than welcoming into my life. Like parts of myself I was throwing away as I was counting down to the ball drop. Instead I now prefer to celebrate who I’ve become through the last year’s experiences and gracefully invite more health, joy, connection, presence, and flow into the next. I do this through writing a gratitude letter and envisioning the next year though an intention book I fill with images that inspire the feelings I am welcoming in. It sets a tone that excites me rather than makes me feel like I should suck less.

Nikki Clarke, Toronto, Canada
Award-winning Founder of the Nikki Clarke Show,” Canada’s Oprah”, Pastor, Fmr. MP and MPP Candidate Mississauga Malton

New Year’s Resolutions help me to evaluate how well I did in achieving my goals from the previous year. It gives me a chance to reset my intentions and to create strategies to manifesting my desired goals.

Jennifer Cline, Akron, USA
Artist, Flag Maker, TikTok Creator 152K Followers

I’m a huge believer in setting goals and of using visualization to reach them. This past year, I created a dream board that I hung in my workshop. It included milestones I wanted to reach, one of which was growing a following of 100k on any of my social media accounts. At the time I made that dream board, I didn’t know a platform like TikTok would come along. (I’m currently at 150k followers.) The law of attraction is REAL and our thoughts shape our futures. I highly recommend using visualization and positive thoughts to make our resolutions a reality. On a side note, I’ve reset my TikTok bar to 1M.

S. Renee, Washington, USA
Self-Esteem, Branding & Communications Expert, Talent Development Trainer, Coach, Author, Speaker

Most people don’t change because of a New Year’s Resolution. The word “new” – new job, new car, new home, new marriage, new baby – elicits for many of us a feeling of pride and commitment to doing something different. The purpose is to preserve the euphoria we get from getting something new.

What I’ve discovered is that “new” is a boost in motivation, but an authentic drive to change comes as a result of knowing the value of what’s on the other side of one’s current undesirable state. That opportunity is presented every day. 

Sheelagh Caygill, Toronto, Canada
Senior Content Writer, Journalist, Podcaster, Comms pro, Poet

I used to, but not anymore. I am constantly working towards things, trying to improve myself and be a better person. 

Moloy Kumar, Kolkata, India
Explainer video creation expert

My New Year’s Resolution is to get more organized with my work. I want set smaller goals and complete them one by one. Somehow, I was not able to do that in 2019. I am hopeful about 2020.

Shelly Elsliger, Toronto, Canada
Globally Recognized LinkedIn Trainer, 2019 Woman of Inspiration, Forbes Writer, Career Catalyst 

Work on mastering the Art of Social Reciprocity. When you don’t expect more, don’t want more, and stop waiting for more, you open the door to receiving more.

Storm Grayson, Swindon, United Kingdom
Editor and Publisher of The Writers’ and Readers’ Magazine at The Writers Publishing Company

For me, if you are a single-minded and completely focused person, they are unnecessary. Many resolutions do not make it to the end of January. I would rather make goals, which have a good chance of being completed before the end of the year.

So what about you? What are your thoughts on New Year’s Resolutions? Do you believe that listing them will make a difference in your life? If so, what are your plans for the New Year?

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