Why do so many of us make New Year’s resolutions? Do they help? Are they frustrating? Do they bring hope? Do they create pressure? Do they cause us stress? Do they actually work? Do they give us something to look forward to?
The only resolution I made on New Year’s Day (which worked for me) was the one I made on January 1st, 1994. It was the day I decided to stop adding sugar to my tea and coffee. I’m still ‘sugar-free’ when drinking tea and coffee. Success!
If you’ve made any New Year’s resolutions, good luck with them. If, like me, you haven’t, grab the nearest 2026 calendar and count how many days it shows. Why am I asking you to count the days on a calendar? There’s a valid reason for this.
Did you count 365 days? Yes? If you counted 366, then you’re looking at 2024’s calendar. Ditch it. Now look at all those days 2026 has to offer.
Each of those days marks a new beginning. Every day offers a chance to start something new. Each day brings opportunities that come knocking. Every day provides a chance to set a resolution if you choose to. Each day allows you to utilise your time effectively. Every day presents an opportunity to make someone smile. Each day gives you a chance to do something good for another person. Every day is a day you can put to good use. Don’t waste them.
What am I getting at?
In simple terms, you can initiate a resolution on any day of the year. I’ve had more success with resolutions I began on days other than New Year’s Day. This makes a lot of sense when considering 364 days compared to one. And isn’t each new day the start of a new year in your life?
Thank you.
Each new year, I reflect and express my gratitude to those who have shaped my life over the past 12 months. This includes not only the people I have met but also those I’ve never encountered, yet who have influenced my life in some way.
As a blogger, I refer to those who visited my blog, engaged with the discussions on my posts, and interacted with the photos I shared.
If you’re not a blogger, the people you interact with on social media may have influenced your life in some way. Consider this: you don’t need to hear spoken words from someone for them to impact your life. Likewise, you don’t have to meet someone in person for them to affect your life.
If it weren’t for all of you out there, the last 12 months would have been a little quieter and emptier here on my blog. And I don’t believe that’s something any blogger wants for their blog.
So, a big thank you for all your support, kindness, and friendship, and for being a significant part of my 2025. You listened to me; you made me laugh. Some of you made me cry, and that’s how I reacted to one of your posts. You astounded me; you made me think. You changed my life or encouraged me to try something new. You entertained me. You helped me through the low points and shared my happiness and joy during the high ones. You influenced me.
What was 2025 like for you?
2025 may have had its low points, but it will also have included some high points. Sometimes, it’s a simple case of coming out of the forest of lows and seeing the highs. Focus on the highs, not the lows.
One of the most significant opportunities for me was having the chance to step back, look at how I was blogging and change how I was doing it. I almost gave up, but when it comes to my online audience and friends, I’m not a quitter.
Don’t feel pressured into publishing blog posts every day. Sadly, I’ve witnessed too many bloggers give up on their blogs because they believed that if they didn’t publish every day, no one would visit. How wrong they were. Anyone who tells you that you must publish a blog post every day to become a successful blogger is not telling you the truth.
Engagement on my blog increased despite a trend toward fewer people engaging and a shift toward engaging more on social media.
2025 may almost be over or gone, but it shouldn’t be forgotten. Why? Because, like any day, week, month or year, it played a significant part in your life.
Thank you, 2025.
Thank you, 2025, for the opportunities you presented to me. You may think you did a good job at hiding them from me, but they were there when I looked hard enough!
Now, I’m looking forward to the opportunities 2026 will bring. Are you?
What to do with New Year’s Resolutions
Turn them into opportunities. Opportunities to make new friends, new acquaintances, and new experiences. Make people laugh every day, make people happy, teach people something new, and tell somebody something that will make their day. Don’t turn your resolutions into opportunities that become barriers or hurdles for you or anyone else or that make people unhappy. Be kind to people, even if you don’t agree with what they have to say.
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.
To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist.
We are all in the gutter. But some of us are looking at the stars.
Oscar Wilde
Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Have you experienced some exciting successes along the way? What incredible opportunities did 2025 offer you? I’d love to hear your thoughts—leave me a comment and let’s inspire each other in this discussion!
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This post was originally published on 1st January 2025. It has been updated and republished.
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You’re absolutely right about success throughout the year when avoiding goals on January 1. I always have a big goal in mind, and January 1 is about evaluating where I am on that journey… more like an annual recap. I took your advice earlier this year, and eased up on posting frequency, and the exhausting hustle of visiting other blogs daily. Then, events in life ensured that t I kept to that promise I made myself. So 2026 will follow this theme as well. Consistency, quality, and limiting my presence. It also allows more time to make the rounds and engage with authenticity.
Great tips as always, and have a blessed 2026, Hugh.
Good for you, Nigel. I’ve witnessed many bloggers give up blogging because they believed they had to visit blogs every day. Not only that, but they must leave comments on every post they visit, regardless of whether they have read the post. It’s a surefire way to become overwhelmed by it all.
Dialogue really makes the blogging experience worth it. If it was about states and likes, then it would be a pointless endeavor for me. Have a blessed day, Hugh.
I agree, but those comments need to be as engaging as the post they’re on. I see too many bloggers leaving hundreds of short, non-engaging comments everywhere. If only they stopped wasting their time and left genuine, engaging comments every once in a while, it would make such a big difference.
It most certainly does. The connection feels more authentic when they take the time to toss more than just a few pennies. I am definitely going to make the effort this year to visit a lot more bloggers… and post way less.
I make several each year and I keep most of them. I try to avoid the restrictive types, such as ‘no more ….’ rather I make positive ones, striving towards them slowly over the year. For simple things like ‘exercise more days than not’ I use an app to mark and monitor how I am doing.
Good for you. But don’t forget that resolutions can be made at any time of the year, not just at New Year. I think it helps take the pressure off when they are not made at New Year.
I’m a bit confused as this seems to be a year old but I often enter rooms not sure why so I suppose I should accept the same applies with years. I certainly make no resolutions though I’ll maybe have a few vague ideas and intentions. Like you say a day at a time is just another opportunity. Have a splendid whatever year you want old chap
This was a post I updated and reposted, Geoff. There’s a line at the very bottom of the post that says, ‘This post was originally published on 1st January 2025. It has been updated and republished.’ Hence, you may have read it before.
I like the ‘take one day at a time’ approach. Each new day can be full of opportunities, if we want them.
Happy New Year.
Ah I did look but missed that note. Another sign of age!
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, however, I set min-goals for myself during the year. I appreciate you, Hugh! Your knowledge and tips you share with the community are most helpful and valuable. Thank you and have a fantastic 2026!
Mini-goals sound like a great way to set yourself some targets, Eugi.
Happy New Year to you.
I love your philosophy on approaching each day as a new beginning and a chance to start something new.
I’ve never been a resolution person. In recent years, I’ve picked a one-word theme for the year and aligned smaller monthly goals to that theme. It has worked well for me and gives me the flexibility to change things up as needed without feeling like I’ve failed.
Thanks for continuing to be a terrific support and inspiration to the blogging community, Hugh. Happy New Year!
I see some bloggers choose a word for the year and go with that rather than making resolutions, Michelle. From personal experience, I don’t think many people who make New Year’s resolutions keep them, and that can sometimes make people feel they have failed, which is not a good thing. Whereas resolutions made at other times of the year don’t give so much of that bad feeling if we fail them.
Happy New Year to you. I hope 2026 is a fantastic blogging year for you.
happy new year!
Thank you.