New Year resolutions. Worth it or waste of time?

Do people still make NY resolutions? I thought this had strayed from the "things you no longer see" thread ...

Nope. No early thoughts. There won't be any late thoughts either. However, if I need to resolve something by changing my behaviour, then I do so.

I think the NY resolution 'tradition' is a guilt-pusher.

My early thoughts....

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Complete waste of time

Well, being a member of the 'started but never finished club' ( knitting projects etc) and on the grounds that I WILL make a start but won't manage a whole year......
I am planning a dry January

NY resolutions never last with me - like most other things - so perhaps a mid-year resolution or two?

I think making resolutions at New Year puts pressure on people to achieve them at what might not be the most opportune moment.

I feel it is much better to resolve to do/not do something when you are in a "good place" emotionally. To try and give something up, for instance, when you're feeling stressed or depressed may well lead to failure and reinforce feelings of powerlessness.

Also I think some people tend to set themselves targets that are too high. For instance, why not moderate a particular behaviour rather than try to eliminate it?

This is an amusing graph.

Why? Don't understand?

Notice the huge surge in interest in the word diet at the beginning of every new year.

And slimming, and quitting smoking, and exercise.

I kept to the one I made 42 years ago - to stop smoking.
It's no good resolving to diet from the 1st January as there will still be some goodies left over, so 1st February would be more realistic imo.

For instance, why not moderate a particular behaviour rather than try to eliminate it?
I think you can moderate the way you eat, but with smoking I think it is all or nothing.

Yes, all or nothing as regards eating would be rather too drastic!

I went to the GP's surgery on Friday, and was very annoyed by the implication on the screen that one glass of wine a day makes you an alcoholic. So I resolve not to give up wine in January.

For instance, why not moderate a particular behaviour rather than try to eliminate it? although a 3 day fast might help me in the New Year

Well done, djen - a good resolution.
Does drinking wine count as a fast?

What happened there? I meant to copy this:
Yes, all or nothing as regards eating would be rather too drastic!

New Year resolution: must concentrate more.

durhamjen - I'm with you on the one glass of wine a day issue. Medication means I can't have more than one, so for years now, I've had one some time in the early evening. I know it's daft, but it somehow compensates for never being able to get a bit tidily along with everyone else

I kept the one I made 3 years ago to cut out chocolate and have lost three stones along the way. Generally though I do not make new year resolutions and will not be making any this year. I make changes as and when I need to, but do not always keep to them.

I found giving things up on New Year's Day wasn't very successful as I was usually recovering from the New Year's Eve celebrations. So I switched mine to my birthday which is in mid-January. I would tell myself I was doing it as a present to myself and found it much more successful.

appygran You cut out chocolate three years ago and lost three stone! That was some resolution, however did you keep it? I would have been on my knees begging for it...chocolate I mean! Totally agree with those on here, change things when you realise they need changing and moderation sounds so much easier than elimination. Now.... where did I put the Maltesers?

Yep nonnanna - I am a chocoholic and have not had a fix for three years. Difficult initially, I craved chocolate all the time but feel so much better now.

I do find myself reviewing the past and looking at the future at this time of year but I rarely come to any momentous conclusions.

Can't keep resolutions, and by mutual agreement DH and I gave up the 5:2 diet over the Christmas and New Year period. We are starting again when the last of our house guests arrive and depart next week.

I think that the occasional new years resolution is a good idea.
So long as it is accompanied by enough self will.
A half hearted resolution is no good at all.