As 2025 gets underway, maybe make promises to yourself, rather than resolutions.

Some years ago I made a New Year’s resolution to never make any more New Year’s resolutions.

For some reason or other, despite my best intentions, I never kept up with them — apathy, lack of willpower, goals that were either too vague or too specific to see it through. One way or another, it often resulted in failure or disappointment before the end of February — or sooner.

This year, I’ve decided to make New Year’s PROMISES!

It’s that word — “resolution.” It seems to imply harshness and inflexibility, something you SHOULD do. A better one, in my opinion, is “promise,” which conjures positive images of things you would LIKE to do.

I was surprised to learn that one definition of “resolution” includes the word “promise,” according to the Cambridge dictionary: “A promise to yourself to do or not do something.”

While pondering all this on New Year’s Eve, I found this gem of a quote by Anthony Hitt (who recently stepped down as CEO of the brokerage firm Engel & Völkers Americas): “Keep every promise you make and only make promises you can keep.”

Maybe it’s all just semantics. Whatever you call them, we’re trying to discourage bad habits and encourage new ones. However, if a different word can change my attitude, I’m all for it.

So, approaching the endeavor in a more encouraging light, “I’m going to exercise for 30 minutes every day” (or “I’m going to lose 10 pounds” — take your pick), the strategy changes to “I’m going to explore new outdoor adventures/learn a new physical activity every month.” Doesn’t that sound a lot more fun?

There are tons of yoga videos online and tai chi classes in many communities. And I don’t know about you, but it’s been years since I’ve used a jump rope or a hula hoop, worn a pair of skates or ridden a bike — and for lots longer than a measly 30 minutes a day.

Who knows — maybe I’ll relearn an old skill or discover a passion for a new one. (And in the promising process, lose those nasty 10 pounds).

I can apply the same mindset in other self-improvement areas well. I always think I should (there’s that word again!) give up sweets, but maybe I’ll promise myself to only have one on Sunday. I’ll be cutting myself some slack that one day and doing great the other six.

A common resolution for many people is to read more. Retirement has allowed more reading time in my life, but I still often think in terms of needing to finish a book each week or month. My new promise is to read at least 30 minutes each day and see where it leads. It’s highly likely that my nose will be between the pages much longer than that anyway.

Start small and think big — that’s my attitude. After all, I’m not trying to leap over the Grand Canyon — not yet anyway.

For now, I’ll focus on remastering my hula skills. My new hula hoop is on the way.