Quit making excuses: why I don't do New Year's resolutions

Tomorrow is National Quitters Day. Research has shown that 80% of people who make New Year's resolutions quit by the second Friday in January.

I'm not big on resolutions, but I do see January 1st as an opportunity to face reality and break out of denial. It's a chance for redemption and self-analysis by examining my life under a microscope and asking, "What is this habit or activity in service of?"

The holiday break allows mental space and perspective to evaluate aspects of life we overlook when busier. Freed from constant routines, we can put habits, commitments, and activities under the microscope in a way that the rest of the year doesn't allow.

I usually start January by categorizing everything into "continue, stop, start" columns. Sometimes, I experiment. Over Christmas, I quit my daily sun salutation habit, using the excuse of no yoga mat and inner voice saying, “You deserve a break." I wanted to see if I missed it.

Honestly? Not really. But trying it today felt good, so I'll use the Tiny Habits method to bring it back.

What are excuses? Doubt. Doubting an activity will work means you'll quit when it gets hard. If we wholly believed going gluten-free for a month would change our lives, we'd power through.

Rather than lofty resolutions, why not stop making excuses. As the Big Book of AA says: “Half measures availed us nothing.” You're either committed or you're not.

For me, that's my stance on alcohol, sugar, flour, and one-night stands. I don't entertain them because I know the consequences wouldn't be pretty.