January 04, 2009
Ah, New Year's resolutions. They're those little personal promises that we swear we're going to keep; that is, until we break them in February. How effective are they, really, and should we encourage our children to keep up this tradition? Giyen Kim from Bacon Is My Enemy asks the panelists, Do you make resolutions, or do you think they're a waste of time? And do they just set us up for inevitable failure? Join the Momversation by commenting below or in one of our related forums:
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17 Comments
Lomwefgbnbv
Thu, 2010-03-04 10:11
Wefwjnegjjw
Wed, 2010-03-03 17:40
My new year's resolution is simply to get in shape!
Tue, 2009-05-26 18:28
I make one. This year, I'm learning to play an instrument. It's January 12 and so far I have actually purchased an instrument to learn, so far so good!
Sun, 2009-01-11 23:34
I think it depends on the year. Last year I said absolutely not. The funny thing is, I accomplished a lot last year without having resolutions written down. So this year, I was motivated to make change, therefore I wrote them down. I think the important part is to write down steps and deadlines in order to actually achieve the goals, otherwise they won't happen.
Tabitha
http://www.fromsingletomarried.com
Sat, 2009-01-10 05:46
http://discoverboo.com/2009/01/05/new-years-resolutions/
I don't normally do them. but this year I did and they're very different to what they normally would have been.
Fri, 2009-01-09 01:52
I don't believe in making a resolution or goal for an artificial reason, such as it is January 1. I think you should make a goal at any time of the year when the inspiration to do something strikes you. For example, I decided that I wanted to start running one year in May, and so I started running. A few months later, I decided to eat healthier, so I worked on that. Now I've got a goal to run a marathon and I'm training for that. If you want to do something, make a decision and do it, no matter what time of year it is.
Tue, 2009-01-06 16:23
I actually never have been big on making a list of resolutions on Jan 1st. But this year, I made a list of 5 areas I know I will be focusing on this year.
On my blog I included my list and ask my readers what their resolutions were. Over 100 bloggers linked up and there was a general consensus that treating resolutions as goals works best for most women.
You can read what everyone had to say at
http://www.5minutesformom.com/5289/new-years-2009-carnival/
(I also just heard about the one word thing and I think my word is "surrender" as in giving up control to God.)
Susan
Mon, 2009-01-05 15:01
I don't write mine down, but I do make 2 to 3 resolutions every year. Usually nothing earth shattering, because I don't need another reason to be disappointed with myself (my mother does a great job at that already).
Mon, 2009-01-05 14:11
I think it's important to have goals, objectives... The problem with New Year's Resolutions for me is that I used to use it as an excuse to wait. As soon as the last Quarter of the year came in and I wanted to accomplish something, I'd think, "oh, I'll make it my New Year's Resolution". Goals should be made, preferable written down. If Resolutions work for you, whether lists, or one word, then go for it. Just don't get discouraged if anything on the list is not accomplished. Keep trying.
http://www.conversationswithmoms.com
Mon, 2009-01-05 11:50
In lieu of new years resolutions, each year on my birthday (which IMHO is the real beginning of the "next year of your life"), I create a list with as many items as I will be turning. For example, in March I turn 30, so I will make a list of 30 things to do before I turn 31. It was a lot easier when I started as a teenager to complete the list, but I also keep it attainable and put fillers on there like "de-clutter my nightstand". It's a fun little private thing I do each birthday. It's fun to look at it every few months and cross off what I've done. I think people try to think too big-picture about resolutions: "lose weight", "start exercising", "ask for a raise", these are large things that have to be done in their own good time when you are good and ready. By making it a resolution, you are just putting that much more pressure on yourself to do it. My list usually consists of things like "go to the dentist", "pay off at least $2000 of my student loans", "drive less", "read [book title here]". It's about setting goals, not making yourself feel bad for things you habitually don't do.
Mon, 2009-01-05 11:49
I love that Giyen is recording from her car.
**
I don't really believe in New Year's Resolutions, but I do like the idea of recapping the good points of the previous year and perhaps making a mental note to try and continue the good things into the new year. That would probably be the closest thing I do to making new resolutions. Otherwise I think most people are probably just setting themselves up for disappointment, and nobody likes to be disappointed in themselves.
Mon, 2009-01-05 10:45
I was recording as my daughter was watching Benjamin Button (3 hours long!) at the theater at the mall. It was getting dark out and I needed to record while there was still some daylight. You should have seen the people's faces as they were walking past ...
A mom's gotta do what a mom's gotta do. : )
Mon, 2009-01-05 19:59
In the past I never used to have new years resolutions.. but this year I decided to do it differently; since the first of january also coincides with my birthday (yeah yeah I know) and I just turned 31 (yeah yeah I also know).. I just realized that if I dont put certain things on paper (even if its just one word like Kimchi mama mentioned) I will be 60 years old with nothing to show for.
On another note since it's my first time doing this, we will see if by this time next year I would have actually done some of the things on my list/blog ( I actually wrote my resolution on my blog so that it stares at my everyday when I go on there)
Mon, 2009-01-05 07:37
New Year's resolutions? Ha. Making a resolution just once a year is a waste of time. It's important to take care of yourself all the time. So forget about the long list of stuff on January 1st. Instead slowly tackle your to do list throughout the year.
Tracy
http://themoxiereport.blogspot.com
Mon, 2009-01-05 05:43
I have failed miserably at keeping new year's resolutions so I stopped having them all together... until this year when I learned about the one word. Basically, you have a one word theme for the entire year. I first read about it on the Compassion blog. Anyway, mine for 2009 is humility and already, I feel like it definitely is making a difference in my life. My husband's is patience. I will be reminding him of that a LOT. =)
Sun, 2009-01-04 23:06
I LOVE that! What a great idea. Mine is Survival. As a corollary to that, I'll add Kindness.
Mon, 2009-01-05 00:40