History Main / NewYearsResolution

A popular tradition for people to make at [[NewYearHasCome the start of a new year]]. A new year means a new start, and a new me -- so time to drop habit X!

Almost always ends with FailureIsTheOnlyOption, in part because characters often set lofty goals for themselves that require more motivation beyond "Hey, it's a new year, better make a resolution". Will sometimes be referenced several episodes later.

* The most common resolution of this kind is to lose weight. This ends up resulting in gyms being suddenly packed in January, much to the annoyance of gym regulars. However, most of the people who make such resolutions are gone by February, which makes such people something of a running joke among fitness enthusiasts and athletes.

* [=TV=] Colosso: Priscilla, a producer working at the eponymous network, wasn't sure of what to promise and it worried her for a whole episode. At the end, the network's fortuneteller predicted nobody would fulfill their resolutions so she decided not to make any.

* A lot of people go out to party and celebrate with various coworkers and members of their friends and family over the holidays, and making a resolution to [[WeightWoe lose weight]] is ''exceedingly'' common, resulting in gyms being suddenly packed in January, much to the annoyance of [[FitnessNut gym regulars]]. Most of them are gone by February when they realize losing weight requires discipline, consistency, and patience.

Almost always ends with FailureIsTheOnlyOption, in part because characters often set lofty goals for themselves that require more motivation beyond "hey it's a new year, better make a resolution". Will sometimes be referenced several episodes later.

* Starting in December of 2017, a series of [=AllState=] commercials feating the guy who is the AnthropomorphicPersonification of all the mayhem that could befall upon you and your property (mostly cars) made a New Year's resolution to end mayhem. For the most part, despite missing the Mayhem, he did a good job of keeping his resolution, from being a lighting rod to the tennis ball you use to park just close enough in your garage. [[spoiler:Then by January 2018, he learns that the viewers were unable to keep their resolutions for more than 2 weeks, so he goes back to causing Mayhem.]]

** In one, Daisy Duck suggested him to promise he'd no longer get angry. When he suggested she make a similar promise, the result was a mixture of HypocriticalHumor and DoubleStandard. Donald's nephews then abused the resolution until [[spoiler:Daisy reminded Donald [[LoopholeAbuse he doesn't need to be angry to hit nephews as punishment]]. Having overheard that conversation, the nephews wrote a resolution to be good boys so he'd no longer have a reason to hit them. It didn't work]].
** In another one, Huey, Dewey and Louie promised they'd always make it on time to school and that they'd do the dishes for a whole month as punishment if they break the promise. Donald promised he'd no longer lose his temper. Growing tired of washing dishes, Donald tricked the nephews into being late for school. Wanting to get out of that, they tricked Donald into agreeing they'd have their meals in paper plates. Then they spent the rest of the story trying to enrage him. [[spoiler:It was GoneHorriblyRight]].

* In ''ComicStrip/ForBetterOrForWorse'', the Pattersons discuss what resolutions they are making, but while most are setting up lofty ones, Michael resolves to do things like watch more tv and hang out more with his friends. When his mother confronts him that those resolutions are worthless, Michael responds smugly, "I know, but at least ''mine'' are going to be kept."

** [[https://gocomics.com/garfield/2012/01/22 Three weeks after giving up donuts for her new year's resolution]], Liz hallucinates that Jon's face looks like a donut.

** One year, Marla resolves to finally start her own business and quit Grumbel's. Unfortunately, she gets pregnant and has to delay her dream, and other real life circumstances (the economy, being promoted to store manager, the need for a stable income for her daughter's sake) ensure she never gets the chance to do so. [[spoiler:Even when Grumbel's closes, she's so sick of retail that she takes an office job instead.]]

** The strip for December 31st 2023 has Ted declare his resolution is "no worries". Sally points out that this is unrealistic; of course things are going to happen that are worrying and you can't control that, you can only deal with it. He then suggests that they could both learn to play pickleball, and she tells him to go back to the "no worries" one.

* The ''ComicStrip/AndyCapp'' strip for December 31st 2023 has Andy say he has one New Year's resolution, and Jack the barman ask if it's to pay his tab, stop brawling, or even stop drinking altogether.

-->'''Alfie:''' In a flash I have my New Year's resolution: Aim higher.

* ''Series/TheXFiles'', "How the Ghosts Stole Christmas": Agent Mulder tries to talk Agent Scully into chasing ghosts on Christmas Eve. She doesn't want to go. When Mulder enters the HauntedHouse, she says aloud to herself that she's not going to do it as it's her resolution. However, somebody (Mulder or the ghosts) took her car keys so she ended up with Mulder as usually.

* One episode of ''Series/NCISLosAngeles'' opened with the team discussing their New Years Resolutions, and ended with them calling each other out on the fact that they all broke them.

* ''Series/TheAdventuresOfPeteAndPete'': In "New Year's Pete", Little Pete resolves to buy a jetpack and use it to become a superhero. He spends all year earning the money, but gets a leaf blower in the mail. The people around him make more mundane resolutions that they don't keep.

* ''WebComic/WhatsUpBeanie'': While making her 2021 resolutions, Beanie finds the resolutions she made the past two years. The 2020 ones go right in to the trash ([[UsefulNotes/Covid19Pandemic for rather obvious reasons]]) and she realizes she did fulfil one of her 2019 resolutions: start a comic.
-->"Heh! Would you look at that." [ticks it off the list.]

* In a few ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' sketches, the New Year Baby appears and literally ''kills'' everyone that fails to uphold their resolution. [[spoiler:He lets Daniel slide for breaking his resolution not to masturbate because he tried choking Daniel, only for him to say that was turning him on more.]]

* A lot of people go out to party and celebrate with various coworkers and members of their friends and family over the holidays, and making a resolution to [[WeightWoe lose weight]] is ''exceedingly'' common, resulting in gyms being suddenly packed in January, much to the annoyance of [[FitnessNut gym regulars]]. Most of them are gone by February, when they realize losing weight requires discipline, consistency and patience.

-->'''ComicBook/TheJoker:''' I'm interrupting the Toilet Bowl to bring you my very special New Year's resolution: Ahem, starting tonight at midnight, I, your loving uncle Joker, do solemnly vow not to kill anyone for a whole year. Which means I'm going to have to work extra fast to bump off a few more of you today.