Years ago I made a point of not making any new year resolutions. My friends announced their and I said, no, I don't make those anymore. How often do you stick to those resolutions without resenting them somehow? Then you quit. A recipe for failure. Instead, I decided that while in the frame of mind of giving that Christmas is supposed to manifest in us, I would look at what I wanted to accomplish in the next year.

See, here's the advantage to Christmas resolutions; they usually involve you doing things for others. While new year resolutions are more... self centered. The unselfish ones inspired in the spirit of giving tend to bring a smile to our thoughts. And no one has to know. They'll still make life better for someone else. In some small way you'll improve your own world. So if it matters to you whether or not to do it, consider these words.

Merry Christmas.

I don't do resolutions at all, at any time of year.

I make goals.

Mine is to try and be around for next Christmas.

Planning is what I do to avoid doing things.

Two famous quotes:

1. Man plans, God laughs (or the Mike Tyson version "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth..."
2. Plans are nothing, planning is everything.

I always use the holiday break to try to plan to change previous year bad habits during the New Year.

This year it is to add bike packing backs to my Trek Domane SL6 that will carry enough gear for 2-3 night "credit card" style touring. Then I will weigh the loaded bags and the goal is to lose that much weight!

I agree 100%.

I got a planner (calendar book) as a grab bag gift. threw it my recycling when I got home

I like your plan!

There's a German version to this my dad used to say; Der Mensch denkt und Gott lenkt. Meaning that man makes plans and sets goals, assuming he is in control.

I dunno, you seem pretty resolute about your goal making.

To me, resolutions are things that people don't really want to do.

I resolve to diet, exercise, do good deeds, not eat sugar, blah, blah, blah ... but I don't really want to do any of that.

Goals, on the other hand, are things to look forward to.

I might a goal of doing a 100 km bicycle ride this year, and will look forward to accomplishing that goal!!

Goals are also SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely.