Repeating resolutions (and this column) is OK. New Year resolutions are an important part of our culture and the celebration of new beginnings. Thousands of years ago people celebrated the beginning of the growing season with promises of good behavior to the gods so that they might have healthy crops and good fortune.
Making resolutions is easy, keeping them is harder. Many resolutions fail because they are not the right resolutions. They are too vague, they are based on what someone else wants changed and possibly, the most important, is that there is no realistic plan to achieve the resolution.
Resolutions need to be SMART. That is they need to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound. Specific means rather saying “I want to lose weight”, say I want to lose 5 pounds in the next three months. Measurable is obvious with weight loss while other behaviors might need to be charted. Achievable simply means taking small steps towards a big goal such as saving a dollar a month instead of a hundred. Relevant means that the goal is set by the person making the resolution. This requires a process of thinking harder about what is good for you, about changing structure of your habits. Time-bound means being able to reach your goal in a realistic time frame. Frequently this means having several smaller intermediate goals to make a habit for lifetime.
Common to all ages, healthy resolutions include getting more sleep, exercise, eating healthy food and less screen time. Resolutions need to be shared and age appropriate.
For small children choose one or two of the following: I will brush my teeth at least twice a day or I will wash my hands after going to the bathroom and before eating or I will share my toys. For children aged 5-12 years old require a whole new set of more sophisticated resolutions such as the following: I will eat healthier snacks or I will find an exercise that makes me happy.
Teenagers need to begin to make their own decision about their goals. They are in the process of assuming the management of their health and life decisions. Suggestions for teens to think about are as follows: I will hang out with friends who bring me up, not drag me down or I will talk to my parents about everything or I will eat junk food in moderation and eat more fruit and vegetables.
And finally some resolutions for parents: I will take a moment to say “I love you” to my children and give a hug at least once a day or I will limit my screen time or I will remain alert to things my child may not be telling me or I will teach my children to recycle paper, plastic and aluminum or I will spend more time talking and listening to my child.
Make your chart, record your progress and help them with their own charting or journal.
Happy Healthy New Year
Happy New Year!
Sally Robinson MD
Dec 2025
Have a healthy, happy New Year.