# So, do you have a New Year's Resolution? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 30, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507 "2013-12-30T20:25:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jrsone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jrsone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrsone)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/1 "2013-12-30T20:25:36Z")
I know. I am going to lose weight this year. I do it every year, perfectly capable of losing a great deal of weight but I am never able to sustain it for any period of time. Here’s hoping it’s my year. What says you folks? ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/2 "2013-12-30T21:03:44Z")
Mine is to keep _off_ the weight I lost this year. Harder than losing it, in my case. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/3 "2013-12-31T00:08:56Z")
As a school kid I discovered simple logic. I made a resolution never to make another resolution. Sixty years and I’ve never broken it. ---
**Author:** ![Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bc8723/32.png) [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/4 "2013-12-31T00:21:05Z")
I’m not big on resolutions in general. But I came up with a modest, interesting one: I resolve to refer to individuals of unknown gender as “she” rather than “he.” This grew out of my annoyance with myself when I realized I was referring to honeybees as “he” when talking to my daughters. (If they’re flying around our bushes collecting nectar, they’re most definitely "she"s.) ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/5 "2013-12-31T00:37:18Z")
I’m going to try to have two meatless days a week. I also want to cook more and not be so lazy in the kitchen. Maybe the meatless thing will inspire me to eat some new things. I also want to write a short story. Not just a part of a story. But afinished short story that will be of publishable quality. And I want to travel somewhere I’ve never been before. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/6 "2013-12-31T00:41:12Z")
I just realized this morning, as I saw my Twitter feed full of my friends’ resolutions - I haven’t given it even a moment’s thought. Maybe that’s for the best, as I never really keep them anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Domesticated\_Primate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@Domesticated\_Primate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Domesticated_Primate)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/7 "2013-12-31T01:10:07Z")
Eat less. Shift to a more healthy diet. Get spending under control. ---
**Author:** ![troubledwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@troubledwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troubledwater)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/8 "2013-12-31T01:28:17Z")
1. To eat at least a pound and a half of vegetables every day 2. To be able to perform 10 consecutive pull-ups. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/9 "2013-12-31T01:37:59Z")
No. I’ve never made one and don’t see the point. If you have life changes you need to make, go ahead and make them. January 1st holds no special significance. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/10 "2013-12-31T01:43:00Z")
Lose 20 pounds. Floss. ---
**Author:** ![Jungian\_Camisole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@Jungian\_Camisole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jungian_Camisole)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/11 "2013-12-31T01:53:54Z")
Eating better and drinking less. Lord, I love the bourbon. I have to love it a bit less. Walking at least a mile a day. Age is creeping up on me, so I have to give my joints (I’m looking at _you,_ hips and knees!) a bit more of a workout to gain a decrease in pain in the long run. The Mr. and I were talking earlier this evening, and we came to an easy agreement that we will go scorched earth on our remaining debt after our Vegas Vacation in April. The goal is to be less than $20,000 in debt including the house by the end of year. Beans and rice, rice and beans! I will miss my manicures, watching new movies, and delicious Thai takeout. The Mr. will miss his twice-weekly lunch with his daughters and generous monthly pocket money. The payoff will be worth the sacrifice. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/12 "2013-12-31T02:09:40Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > No. I’ve never made one and don’t see the point. If you have life changes you need to make, go ahead and make them. January 1st holds no special significance. Now I want to make one just to piss off Leaffan. My resolution is that I will act like January 1 is a special day with special significance. Neener. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/13 "2013-12-31T02:10:26Z")
> [@Jungian\_Camisole](#): > > . . . Walking at least a mile a day. Age is creeping up on me, so I have to give my joints (I’m looking at _you,_ hips and knees!) a bit more of a workout to gain a decrease in pain in the long run. . . . I am so very with you here, brother! My strategy is more like two or three miles, three times a week, but I’ll try to keep the average up to the equivalent of a mile a day. I was out today on a lovely lake-shore walking path and did three and a half. It’s also good for stress reduction, and provides the rough equivalent of meditation. (All the blood is going into the legs and back, so the brain gets short rations and can zone out!) It’s a good way to get in touch with your unconscious. (My weak spots are ankles and soles. I suffer from sporadic plantar fasciitis. Which not only hurts, but is spelled funny.) ETA: I love your login name! I don’t know what it means, but I love it! ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/14 "2013-12-31T02:13:57Z")
I’m going Foodie this year. Dallas is full of Mom & Pop restaurants that are to die for. Such diversity in this town. I’m going to try and discover at least on shop/restaurant a week. I may even start a blog. My first venture will be [Jimmy’s Food store](http://www.yelp.com/biz/jimmys-food-store-dallas) for an authentic Italian beef sandwich. Or a Cuban or a Muffuletta. Who knows? So many choices! ---
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/15 "2013-12-31T02:42:33Z")
I avoid resolutions based on it the calendar date becoming January 1st for a few reasons. First, I hear all my “gym bunny” friends talk about how the gym population quadruples between December and January. I expect my Facebook feed, as well as personal conversations, to be filled with people complaining about waiting to use equipment, lack of parking, etc., for the next month. If I’m going to get more serious about working out, then I need it to be easier, not harder and more frustrating. Second, my birthday falls on the second week of January. Not that I plan on any huge party or whatever, but I just don’t think it’d be easy to stick to a new routine when I plan on a celebration of some sort before the “lifestyle changes” have taken root. Also, I’m starting a new job in January, and I just don’t think that a complete upheaval in routine would be productive or would reap amazing results since I imagine January will be a period of settling into a “new normal.” I’m honestly thinking of waiting until February before I make any major changes. It’s still an arbitrary date, but at least at that point, things will be calmer. > [@Shakes](#): > > I’m going Foodie this year. Dallas is full of Mom & Pop restaurants that are to die for. Shakes, I’m sure this is a dumb question, but have you been to Maple and Motor? If you haven’t, it’s worth a try. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/16 "2013-12-31T03:45:45Z")
> [@Calatin](#): > > Shakes, I’m sure this is a dumb question, but have you been to Maple and Motor? If you haven’t, it’s worth a try. I have not. And it’s going on my list. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/17 "2013-12-31T03:54:45Z")
I stopped making New Year’s resolutions, so I don’t have any this year. I figured out that if I couldn’t do something the rest of the year, then waiting till after New Year’s wasn’t all that helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/18 "2013-12-31T04:04:52Z")
Make more time for reading. Which will probably entail less time on the Board. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/19 "2013-12-31T07:43:42Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Make more time for reading. Which will probably entail less time on the Board. I need to make this resolution. I spend far too much time just faffing about on the computer. I don’t read nearly as much as I used to or as much as I want to. So count me in with the ‘read more’ people. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2013, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507/20 "2013-12-31T07:50:06Z")
De-clutter the house! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-do-you-have-a-new-years-resolution/677507.md?page=2)