History Main / NewYearsResolution

* WebVideo/EconomyWatch: David writes one in the Season 3 premiere, before realizing that he'll realistically never follow through with it.

* In one of WebVideo/ThomasSanders' Website/{{Vine}}s, he shows that he did keep his resolution -- simply, to write one out. His friend notes that this was an improvement from the previous year.

* The ''ComicStrip/SallyForthHoward'' strips for the first week of January 2020 have various ideas for New Year's resolutions, none of which the Forths come close to keeping. In the SundayStrip, Sally asks Ted if he's come up with anything, and he responds with an inspirational speech about approaching life with a new attitude which she notes doesn't actually commit him to ''doing'' anything.
* In the ''Oor Wullie'' strip for the same Sunday, Wullie's family offer suggestions for his resolution (mostly involving chores), but he says "No" to all of them. He then takes up a challenge that his resolution should be to stop saying "No", and finds himself doing the chores anyway. He gets his own back when his dad (who is eating the good shortbread when he's supposed to be fixing a shelf) asks if Ma's still at the shops, and he doesn't say "No".

* 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.]]

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** 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]].

-->'''Calvin''': I've ''also'' resolved not to put up with sarcastic tigers.\\
'''Hobbes''': If I see any, I'll be sure to let them know.

** 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.]]

-->'''Scully''': I'm not going to do it. My New Year's resolution.

* In one of WebVideo/ThomasSanders' Website/{{Vine}}s, he shows that he did keep his resolution - simply, to write one out. His friend notes that this was an improvement from the previous year.

* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': Dr. Doofenshmirtz once tried to take over the Tri-State Area by making everyone's New Year's Resolution to obey him. [[spoiler: You can easily guess how that plan got foiled.]]

* 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.]]

-->'''Calvin''': I've ''also'' resolved not to put up with sarcastic tigers.
-->'''Hobbes''': If I see any, I'll be sure to let them know.

---> '''Schroeder:''' Why do we have to make our resolutions right on January first? What's wrong with May sixteenth or September twenty-third? Why January first?
--->'''Lucy:''' It's ''neater''!

* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' [[https://garfield.com/comic/1993/01/01 decided not to sleep]] more than [[ExactWords eight hours a day]]. Upon calculation, he told Jon to wake him up on May 3rd.
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/1993/12/28 Garfield promised not to do this prank anymore but he's not sure he'll keep the promise]].
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/2013/01/01 Jon promised to brush his teeth everyday.]] Even if he's not going anywhere.
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/2014/01/05 Jon and Garfield resolved not to eat donuts anymore. After each one hallucinated a donut asking him to eat it, they decided to break the resolution.]]
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/2011/12/27 Jon's resolution]]: No more thumb-sucking! Except during scary movies.
-->'''Garfield:''' That goes without saying.
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/2011/12/28 Garfield resolves]] "to stop eating junk food, and to exercise every day, and to curb my incessant lying".
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/2011/12/29 A spider promises to think before he speaks...]] and then blows it up by calling Garfield "fatso".
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/2011/12/30 Garfield makes the same resolution he makes every year.]] "Not to mess with perfection".
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/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.
-->'''Liz:''' [[YouCanSeeThatRight Okay, did you see that?]]
-->'''Garfield:''' He usually has sprinkles.
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/2017/12/29 Garfield doesn't have any resolutions this time because]] "you can't improve on perfection". He then "thack"s his face on a wall.
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/1998/01/01 Jon resolves to be less geeky and more sophisticated...]] and then botches it by blowing chocolate milk bubbles in his Binky the Clown mug.

-->'''Jon:''' I hate these questions.
-->'''Garfield:''' Yeah, but I '''love''' your answers.

-->'''Val:''' Hm, a resolution that's broken the moment it's made. Interesting.
-->'''Marla:''' That way I can deal with the guilt right away and get on with my life.

-->'''Val:''' I like my odds this year.

-->'''Nick Charles:''' Have you made any New Year's resolutions?
-->'''Nora Charles:''' Not yet. Any complaints or suggestions? [snip]
-->'''Nick:''' Well, you don't scold, you don't nag, and you look far too pretty in the mornings.
-->'''Nora:''' All right, I'll remember: Must scold, must nag, mustn't be too pretty in the mornings.

--> '''Paul:''' This is impossible. Actually, physically impossible.
--> '''Ingrid:''' Use your imagination.

-->'''Peppermint Patty:''' Have you made any New Year's resolutions, Chuck?
-->'''Charlie Brown:''' Yes. You know how I always dread the whole year? Well, this time I'm only going to dread one day at a time.
* [[WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb Dr. Doofenshmirtz]] once tried to take over the Tri-State Area by making everyone's New Year's Resolution to obey him. [[spoiler: You can easily guess how that plan got foiled.]]

!Examples:

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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!

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* In one of the [[Literature/TheBabySittersClub Babysitters Little Sister]] books, Karen spends the month of January cracking down on all the members of her family who haven't been keeping up with their New Year's Resolutions, but they retaliate by pulling out Karen's own list of resolutions, which has been heavily altered to give herself loopholes.
* Samuel Pepys wrote in [[Literature/TheDiaryOfSamuelPepys his diary]] on New Year's Eve, 1661: "I have newly taken a solemn oath about abstaining from plays and wine". He broke the second part by February 17.

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* Calvin from ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' often made his New Year's Resolution not to change at all, but to force everyone else to change.
-->'''Calvin''': I've ''also'' resolved not to put up with sarcastic tigers.
-->'''Hobbes''': If I see any, I'll be sure to let them know.
* Lucy from ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}'' also did that at least once. She handed out sheets of paper.
** From the January 1, 1960 strip:
---> '''Schroeder:''' Why do we have to make our resolutions right on January first? What's wrong with May sixteenth or September twenty-third? Why January first?
--->'''Lucy:''' It's ''neater''!
* 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."
* In one ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot'' strip, BrattyTeenageDaughter Paige tells her parents that her resolution is to not let AnnoyingYoungerSibling Jason bother her anymore. Then Jason tells them that his resolution is to mess with Paige even more. Father Roger comments "This is going to be a real battle of wills" while mother Andy breaks out the medicine and says "More like 'pills'."
** In an earlier strip, Paige resolved to be more assertive and less wishy-washy ("Full steam ahead!") She then asks her mother if the resolution is stupid and says she can change it, prompting Andy to respond "Let's back up those steam engines a bit..."
* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' [[https://garfield.com/comic/1993/01/01 decided not to sleep]] more than [[ExactWords eight hours a day]]. Upon calculation, he told Jon to wake him up on May 3rd.
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/1993/12/28 Garfield promised not to do this prank anymore but he's not sure he'll keep the promise]].
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/2013/01/01 Jon promised to brush his teeth everyday.]] Even if he's not going anywhere.
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/2014/01/05 Jon and Garfield resolved not to eat donuts anymore. After each one hallucinated a donut asking him to eat it, they decided to break the resolution.]]
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/2011/12/27 Jon's resolution]]: No more thumb-sucking! Except during scary movies.
-->'''Garfield:''' That goes without saying.
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/2011/12/28 Garfield resolves]] "to stop eating junk food, and to exercise every day, and to curb my incessant lying".
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/2011/12/29 A spider promises to think before he speaks...]] and then blows it up by calling Garfield "fatso".
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/2011/12/30 Garfield makes the same resolution he makes every year.]] "Not to mess with perfection".
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/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.
-->'''Liz:''' [[YouCanSeeThatRight Okay, did you see that?]]
-->'''Garfield:''' He usually has sprinkles.
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/2017/12/29 Garfield doesn't have any resolutions this time because]] "you can't improve on perfection". He then "thack"s his face on a wall.
** [[https://garfield.com/comic/1998/01/01 Jon resolves to be less geeky and more sophisticated...]] and then botches it by blowing chocolate milk bubbles in his Binky the Clown mug.
** [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/2022/01/01 Jon asks if Liz has any New Year resolutions]]. She says she thought about losing weight and asks what '''he''' thinks.
-->'''Jon:''' I hate these questions.
-->'''Garfield:''' Yeah, but I '''love''' your answers.
* In ''ComicStrip/{{Retail}}'':
** They once had a week of 'New Year's Resolutions', not so much made to improve the employees as it was forced on them by the corporate environment. Example: Heather's resolution to 'lose weight' is because she can't afford as much food because her hours got cut.
** Val's makeover to a more flattering hairstyle came about because of a New Year's resolution.
** Marla resolves one year to not make any resolutions.
-->'''Val:''' Hm, a resolution that's broken the moment it's made. Interesting.
-->'''Marla:''' That way I can deal with the guilt right away and get on with my life.
** And then one year Val's resolution...is to get milk and bread.
-->'''Val:''' I like my odds this year.
** 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 ''ComicStrip/SallyForthHoward'' strips for the first week of January 2020 have various ideas for New Year's resolutions, none of which the Forths come close to keeping. In the SundayStrip, Sally asks Ted if he's come up with anything, and he responds with an inspirational speech about approaching life with a new attitude which she notes doesn't actually commit him to ''doing'' anything.
* In the ''Oor Wullie'' strip for the same Sunday, Wullie's family offer suggestions for his resolution (mostly involving chores), but he says "No" to all of them. He then takes up a challenge that his resolution should be to stop saying "No", and finds himself doing the chores anyway. He gets his own back when his dad (who is eating the good shortbread when he's supposed to be fixing a shelf) asks if Ma's still at the shops, and he doesn't say "No".
* ''ComicStrip/{{Zits}}'' offers a variant in 2021 when they present New ''School'' Year's Resolutions in August, resolutions such as 'don't let fungus grow in your locker', 'cut back to five A.P. classes during track season', 'use your free periods wisely' (which Jeremy amended to 'after this one' because he and Pierce were screwing around), 'ignore your phone during class', and 'don't judge your friends' study habits'.

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* In one of WebVideo/ThomasSanders' WebOriginal/{{Vine}}s, he shows that he did keep his resolution - simply, to write one out. His friend notes that this was an improvement from the previous year.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'' "[[DevilInPlainSight Big D]]" also [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=721 has one]]. [[http://www.sinfest.net/archive_page.php?comicID=1439 Monique's]] just keeps the status quo.

* ''Series/ElChavoDelOcho'': One episode had the vencidad's residents having a New Year's party at Don Ramón's place. Doña Florinda promised she'd no longer hit him unless she had reasons like Don Ramón hitting Quico or denying doing so. She also promised she'd no longer act as if she's [[RichBitch superior]] to any of her neighbors, albeit the wording of her promise suggests it's unlikely she's able to fulfill it. Quico promised to always allow ElChavo to borrow his toys. Chavo doubted Quico would keep that resolution. Quico explained that his resolution was based on Chavo usually kicking his toys so Chavo promised he'd no longer do it. Quico then allowed Chavo to borrow [[ExactWords a ball]]. Don Ramón promised to pay all his debts. Doña Florinda then said it was only about resolutions that could be fulfilled. [[HypocriticalHumor Like she's one to talk]].

* ''ComicStrip/{{Zits}}'' offers a variant in 2021 when they present New ''School'' Year's Resolutions in August, resolutions such as 'don't let fungus grow in your locker', 'cut back to five A.P. classes during track season', 'use your free periods wisely' (which Jeremy amended to 'after this one' because he and Pierce were screwing around), and 'ignore your phone during class'.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Zits}}'' offers a variant in 2021 when they present New ''School'' Year's Resolutions in August, resolutions such as 'don't let fungus grow in your locker', 'cut back to five A.P. classes during track season', and 'use your free periods wisely' (which Jeremy amended to 'after this one' because he and Pierce were screwing around).

* ''ComicStrip/{{Zits}}'' offers a variant in 2021 when they present New ''School'' Year's Resolutions in August. One of Jeremy's is to not let fungus grow in his locker. (Pierce already failed that.)

** In yet another one, Donald and the nephews agreed he'd do the dishes if he breaks his resolution before they break theirs and they'll do the dishes if they break their resolution before he breaks his. In order to avoid trickery, they kept their resolution secret and wrote them inside envelopes. Donald promised to only prepare desserts until they have any and the nephews promised not to have desserts. A few days later, Donald decided to figure out their promise and found a way to open the envelope without leaving signs. He then changed his resolution. The next day, one of the nephews asked Donald to pose for a photograph and he agreed. Later on, he tricked them into having dessert so he could punish them. While wondering how he knew what their resolution was, they asked him what ''his'' was. He then revealed he promised not to wear a hat inside the house. They then pointed out he was breaking his resolution but he claimed they broke theirs first. None of them remembered Donald wearing his hat inside the house before they broke their resolution [[spoiler:until the nephew who took the photograph produced it as evidence Donald was the first resolution breaker among them. That nephew then confided to the others he had seen Donald's papers at the table and, using a SherlockHolmes trick, had figured out Donald's new resolution and took the photo for that purpose]].

** 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 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.]]