I don’t set New Year’s resolutions. It’s too easy to get amped up for a really big goal, with effort beginning on the 1st of January, and then all that momentum peters out sometimes within only a few days, or a couple of weeks at most. I tried setting a New Year’s resolution a few times back in my twenties, and I was happy to leave that unproductive practice behind.
There’s too much pressure at the beginning of the year. We’ve just come out of the winter holidays, which are often a lot even if you’re not invited to twelve parties every week from Thanksgiving through December 31st, and even if you don’t travel internationally to meet your significant other’s extended family for the first time. Not that I’ve done those things, but I know people. There’s a lot going on at the end of the year, and often what we most need as we’re coming out of the holiday haze is rest — not an ambitious new project that ramps up on a steep incline right from the start.
For the past five years or so, I’ve been choosing a theme for the coming year — kind of a word of the year, to set the tone for what I hope to accomplish — and that’s been constructive. But a social media acquaintance — fellow author and fellow Portlander Claire Willett — shared an idea recently that has captured my imagination: twelve monthly resolutions instead of one big annual one. Smaller, more manageable goals. A fresh start roughly every thirty days. And (this seemed to be Claire’s big takeaway) the opportunity to celebrate and drink champagne a dozen times, instead of just once.
I love this. I don’t have twelve distinct goals mapped out for 2026 — yet. As it happens, rather a lot seems to have dropped on me at once, and it’s feeling a bit overwhelming. There are several things currently on my plate that need to happen now and soon, so I won’t be pushing those off until later months. But some of the others I might delay. I want to be sure that I’m giving myself room to breathe while tackling these changes and new endeavors, and monthly resolutions might be the way to go.
This is also an opportunity to try new things through the year, and to give myself something to look forward to as the months progress. March might be the month for revamping my book marketing efforts, for instance, while I could designate June for visiting new astronomy observing sites. And then the end of each month is a time for review and reflection — and celebration — before again moving forward.
It also sounds like fun.
If I’m remembering correctly, Claire got the idea from her therapist. I promptly shared the idea with my therapist, so she could tell her other clients and fellow counselors about it.
Speaking of themes for the year, I’ve chosen “equilibrium” for 2026. I know the coming year is going to test me in ways I can’t currently imagine. I’m working on maintaining my balance and keeping an even keel as much as possible. I expect that having a monthly reset, even informally and without fireworks and fizzy drinks, will help with that.
So here’s to giving monthly goals and resolutions a try.