Focus on New Year’s Resolutions

The focus as 2025 gives way to 2026? New Year’s resolutions and how we can turn them into healthy routines.

“I will lose weight.” “I will read from a book every day.” “I will drink less.” “I will work out more.” “I will eat healthier.” “I’m gonna spend more time with my family.” “I’m going to give up sweets.” “I’m going to change my job.”

Any of those sound familiar during this reflective time of the calendar?

As 2025 gives way to 2026, millions of Americans are making New Year’s resolutions. It’s possible you are among the 30% of Americans who resolve to change something in the coming year.

You could also be among the just over 40% of Americans who, as Pew researchers found, broke at least one of their resolutions less than a month into 2024.

Let’s look at the positive. There is some good news (assuming we are being honest with ourselves): most of us give resolutions a real chance to become routines.

You don’t need the clock to strike 12 to resolve to change 

In the past few months I resolved to become “one of those guys” who does daily push-ups and sit-ups. I had never really tried to do this before, but I figured while I was going through an emotional and physical transformation, the time was right.

AI see this as the visual interpretation of my push-ups routine.

I made the resolution simple—and kept it free of the pressure of a "New Year" deadline: I won’t eat anything in the morning until I’ve done my push-ups and sit-ups.

I started with 10 of each, with the goal of increasing to at least 25 each morning. I made this attainable because all I need to achieve the goal is a couple of minutes and some open floor—ideally with a ledge I can use to keep my feet down during the sit-ups.

One resolution, leads to another

I had already resolved not to eat before 8:15 a.m. (at the earliest), so I don't have to do these in the dark of my bedroom to avoid waking my wife. It has actually turned out to inspire my kids to join me sometimes. I even find myself focused on form as I go up and down.

But, it also got me thinking: “Is it actually safe to do pushups every morning?

”Men’s Health actually dived into that quandary over the summer:

“You should not train pushups in vacuum every day,” says MH fitness director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S. “This is the trap that a lot of people fall into, they think it’s an easy upper body exercise you can do daily, and all of the sudden you’re going to see gains.”

Hold on—now I need to resolve to do a full workout routine? I’m sensing a snowball effect here.

What’s the next thing I need to resolve to change?

This brings me back to New Year’s resolutions. What better time to start the ball rolling on positive change than now?

Don’t keep resolution(s) to yourself either. Tell people in your circle. That way, they can help hold you accountable.

For me, it’s going to be living in the present. Tomorrow is always in the future and yesterday is always in the past. The only real thing we have is the moment now.

So, what’s your resolution for today?

Happy New Year’s! 🎉