I am not a fan of New Years Resolutions. I have no problem with resolutions in the strictest sense of the definition, I just do not subscribe to the theory that the New Year should add any special significance to the resolution.
In fact, I would like to submit that a resolution created for the New Year is more likely to fail than a resolution created any other time of the year. My primary reason for feeling this way is because people tend to create these resolutions because they feel they need to do so on this day. I do not think any resolution created for this reason will work.
Let's take probably the grand daddy of New Years resolutions, losing weight, as an example. If you really wanted to lose weight, why would you wait until New Years to start doing so? If you just happened to recognize that you need to lose weight, which is highly unlikely, would you actually tie the resolution to the day?
My personal experience, which is obviously very anecdotal, with weight loss might provide some insight. I happen to be about 50 - 60 pounds overweight. I am supposed to weigh 155 - 165 and I weigh 219. Sure I would like to weigh less, and I know I should be more active but there really is no reason to do so. I happen to be lucky enough to work out of the house and have virtually no face to face interactions with my customers. I do not consider myself unhealthy, I do jog on the treadmill on occasion and can run four or five miles. I do not find myself getting winded climbing stairs, mowing the lawn, etc. I ran track and cross country in high school and played competitive racquetball in my twenties so I have been mostly active my whole life.
I also happen to like to eat...My addiction is fried or salty foods. I love popcorn, appetizers, fried chicken, etc. Anyway...
I would periodically get on a fitness kick and lose 20 pounds but would put it back on in a few months. I suspect this is what most people do with their resolutions. What opened my eyes was when a relative of mine asked me to be in their wedding party a year or two ago.
Back then I weighed 234 pounds and felt that if I were going to be in their wedding photos, something that they will be viewing for the rest of their lives, that I should present the best possible image of myself as possible within the time frame given. They mentioned to me in November that the wedding would be in June. That gave me seven months.
The time flew by and I walked daily, adjusted my diet, lifted weights, and got my weight down to 185 by the wedding. I didn't do anything crazy, and I didn't mind making the sacrifices necessary for the event. Sure I wasn't thin but I was no where near where I started from.
After the wedding, I stopped exercising, I started eating like I had in the past and I slowly worked my way up to where I am now. I have been at this weight for several months so it seems like this is where I plateau.
What changed? The need to lose the weight. I had a genuine reason to lose the weight and I did. Once the need to lose the weight left, I went back to my old ways. I have no doubt, that should the need to lose weight again present itself that I will have no problem doing so.
To summarize a rambling and way too long entry, I do not feel that a date in time will ever provide the necessary reason to successfully complete a resolution. I think the life has an uncanny ability to provide you with the reasons to make life changes when they need to be made. When those changes occur, the resolutions made to alter your course have a very good chance at being completed successfully.