It’s perfectly normal to stumble over our New Year’s resolutions, but what matters is that we keep moving forward
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Well, it’s official: January is coming to a close. That means it’s time for the annual ritual of reckoning with our New Year’s resolutions. You remember those, right? The ones we declared with gusto (or whispered, just in case)?
For many, January begins as a month of ambition. Gym memberships soar, meal prep containers fly off the shelves, and calendars are filled with colour-coded plans for the “new you.” By week two, though, cracks begin to show. By week three, resolve turns into regret. And by the time February rolls around, the majority of those resolutions are abandoned like a forgotten load of laundry.
Take Dry January, for instance. It starts with great enthusiasm, the promise of clearer skin, better sleep and a sense of virtuous discipline. But somewhere along the way, Dry January becomes Damp January. After all, there are only so many “sparkling waters with a twist of lime” one can tolerate before a midweek glass of wine feels not only acceptable but downright necessary.
My private resolution this year? More patience with my kids. You know the drill: less yelling, more calm redirection. I had this lofty idea, inspired by all those parenting experts, that speaking gently and redirecting firmly would magically turn chaos into cooperation. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t work that way.
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Here’s the thing no one tells you about yelling: it doesn’t work, but it feels so satisfying in the moment. Of course, the kids don’t actually listen, the chaos escalates, and I’m left feeling like I failed to model the very behaviour I want them to learn. After all, yelling at someone to stop yelling isn’t exactly a shining example of conflict resolution, is it?
Still, some days I crush it. I take a deep breath, calmly address the situation and feel like I’ve unlocked a parenting superpower. Other days … well, let’s just say patience remains a work in progress.
But here’s the thing about resolutions: they’re not a one-and-done deal. January may be wrapping up, but that doesn’t mean the opportunity to improve has passed. In fact, the end of January is the perfect time to take stock, reset and set more realistic goals for the months ahead.
For those who’ve stumbled or abandoned their resolutions altogether, don’t worry—you’re not alone. The truth is, progress doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful. Small steps matter, whether it’s drinking an extra glass of water, taking a 10-minute walk or simply pausing to breathe before responding to a stressful situation.
If you need a little humour to soften the blow of broken resolutions, here’s my poetic ode to January’s struggles:
Oh January, you tricky beast,
With promises made at the New Year’s feast.
“I’ll work out daily! I’ll eat no cake!”
But by week two, I needed a break.
I whispered, “Dry January, let’s make a pact,”
But wine on a Wednesday was a counteract.
And patience with children? A noble pursuit,
Yet yelling’s a skill I still can’t refute.
But progress is progress, no matter the pace,
Even if resolutions feel like a race.
So here’s to February—another fresh start,
To try once again with an open heart.
As we prepare to welcome February, let’s give ourselves permission to try again. The “current you” is already doing just fine. And remember, it’s not about being perfect—it’s about moving forward, one small step at a time.
After all, February is just another fresh chapter in the book of 2025. Let’s write it well.
Faith Wood is a professional speaker, author, and certified professional behaviour analyst. Before her career in speaking and writing, she served in law enforcement, which gave her a unique perspective on human behaviour and motivations. Faith is also known for her work as a thriller and suspense novelist. Her background in law enforcement and understanding of human behaviour often play a significant role in her writing.
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