New Year Resolutions - do you make them?

Well I have some good intentions one of which this year is to stop reading rubbish and get some better literature to read and to do more of it and have less TV. I will carry on with the healthy eating/exercise plan I started in the Autumn having only put on 2 lbs over Christmas as my appetite is much reduced I am heartened to continue. I think its a good time to think about these things but I wouldn't call them resolutions as such.

Apart from taking as much exercise as possible, my only resolution this year will be not to take my fishing so seriously. Last season it was all about the biggest fish and the most fish and when I had days where I didn't find either, I was seriously 'Go home and put all your kit on eBay' disgruntled. This year, it will be calm thoughts at the water's edge and blank days will be dismissed with Zen-like insouciance!

Nope.

greyduster I empathise with your feelings about fishing as I have them about my golf and although I often think of sending the whole bag to the bottom of the lake I will carry on, have a few lessons to see if I can improve the putting (drive for show putt for dough)and bring the handicap down just one point - that would be an achievement. I shall take your Zen stance as a model and an inspiration.

Onward and upward, Teetime, though I doubt if I'd take anything I do as an inspiration!

Last year I resolved to lose 12lbs in weight by 1/1/2017......only 18lbs to go

I make them all year round. My main one is the same as yours on eating and exercise GrannyA11. In fact I'm going to simplify and keep it to just that. It feels like a mountain to climb! I'll be the mountain if I don't take action soon.
I should really sneak one in about managing my money better. Never a saver - me!

For anyone thinking of doing New Year's resolutions this website Art of Simple has a really useful article about reflecting on the past year and setting goals for the next year.

theartofsimple.net/

Happy 2017
(And if you're a celebrity reading this - all I will say is "Stay Safe" we don't want another 2016!!)

RobtheFox - that did make me laugh!

I think New Year is the wrong time to make resolutions as most people make them just because they feel they have to do so. Make a resolution quietly to yourself when you feel the time is right not because you feel forced into it...

On-going - Decluttering and cleaning house, getting virgin garden licked into shape, long-distance walking, learning to ride my tricycle, spending quality time with DH, completing study courses that have worked on for far too long etc. And clearing my credit card debt, starting with Xmas payments, (others interest-free), but then the older stuff. Then building up my investment portfolio.

RobTheFox was laughing so much at your post read it to OH.He said 'sounds like you'!!!.....well heh Ho he's another one who won't make it to 2017!!

keeping the ironing basket empty ,its often a huge pile .I did the same resolution a few years ago and did it for the whole year,sadly that mantra about it becoming a habit after a few weeks didn't appear to work for me and I was back to stockpiling washed clothes .Next year WILL be different .All the best for 2017

Thanks a lot, holdthetonic - never looked at this site, but it is excellent. And good luck, RobtheFox - keep going . . . with your obvious determination and strong self-control, of course you'll make it.

this year I'm going to be more positive

If anyone is interested in establishing new habits - Gretchen Rubin's book "Better Than Before" is really interesting. She devised four personality types and depending on what type you are, she suggests certain strategies accordingly. (I found it really helpful)

Here's her article in the Guardian

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/29/old-habits-hard-new-year-resolution-personality-succeed

No resolutions as such, just determined to be better...and not forget.

There are smokers who say "Yes, I can give up whenever I want to. I have done it many times". New Year Resolutions are the same - I've made them many times, but no more. Just a general "I must do stuff" Tthat has some chance of succeeding.

I made one resolution many years go, and that was, never to make new year resolutions. I have never broken it.

Well, I start off with good intentions and then it's downhill all the way.......I have been exercising more this year and am determined to keep it up in 2017 as I find I'm actually ENJOYING it!!! And that's a first [gring]

Whoops! I meant obviously

I update my todo and project list which includes goals, holidays desired, memberships of organisations etc.

As part of this I have signed on to 2 adult education courses starting Jan - one for Over 50's getting to know their Tablet. I notice Which has just published a free guide on this. And one on Researching and writing up your family history which plugs into two longer term goals to write my memoirs for my grandchildren and getting a Blue plaque for my suffragette great aunt. Last year got a museum to set up an archive for her & her family as a first step. So making slow progress.

I do have a health file with a folder on each part of my body -eyes, weight, joints. blood pressure etc. Am tracking a knee as it will need an op in the future, weigh myself every six months. I do not believe that a BMI of 25 is desirable in old age but do agree that a BMI of 30 is too much so try to keep at all times below BMI 30.

And of course book my declutterer's annual visit so as to keep on top of my office and any other element like my clothes, or unused gifts that maybe important at the time.

Don't Make Can't Break

its the wrong time of year to make resolutions as I am sitting here with 4 unopened boxes of chocolates, a Christmas cake and some bottles of wine all waiting to be consumed .