Next year, my wife’s goal will be to “live more in the moment” instead of always worrying about the future.

Yours may have varied from losing weight, reading a certain number of books, running a 5K and/or exercising more, or eating healthier among others.

Those are still among the more-common ones.

With the new year around the corner, one question facing all of us is whether or not we make a New Year’s resolution.

Yes, it is time to commit or recommit yourself to something that can make you a better person, physically, mentally, or both.

In the past, it loomed as a staple in our lives, as we decided between Christmas and New Year’s we would focus on helping to improve ourselves.

In the age of ever-changing technology — the rise of AI — it can easily develop into an afterthought, or better yet, a second thought. You may be working way through an effective resolution with exercising and not even realize it.

It is just addressed in a different way.

Certainly the thought of keeping a resolution can be considered an old-school or ancient phrase. Today, we refer to them as goals.

A recent survey from YouGov.com stated that 31% of Americans will devise and develop a resolution for the new year. Among those surveyed, the most common was to exercise more, having 25% stating that it remains a top priority in their lives.

Among people who are planning to make a resolution for 2026, 39% say it is very likely they will keep their resolution throughout 2026 and 50% say it’s somewhat likely. Only 7% stated that they wouldn’t stay steadfast to their resolution.

In 2025, several studies found that anywhere from 10% to 20% of Americans succeeded in keeping their resolutions with many of them deserting them in late February.

Yet, isn’t exercise an ongoing goal in our lives? One of the most hyped and focused goals in today’s world is to exercise. Over the last few years, it has become part of the American fabric.

Do you walk, bike, run or hit the gym on a weekly basis? With my relocation to the South, I see an extraordinary amount of people being active outside. Of course, the weather helps.

Exercise is an easy resolution, and it is a healthy one.

Others on the survey were being happy (23%), eating healthier (22%), saving money (21%) and improving physical health (21%).

We could also think about losing weight, spending more time with family, reducing our unnecessary phone and laptop time or learning some new skills.

Among people who plan to make a New Year’s resolution for 2026, 63% of people generally will make the upcoming year better for themselves when they make resolutions. Among people who don’t plan to make resolutions, only 14% fall into that category.

In a few days, you should make a resolution, and make it a reasonable and realistic one. Don’t expect to accomplish something that is unrealistic.

Remember, jumping out of a plane, or learning to fly one is part of your bucket list. Keeping a resolution should be something that requires regular maintenance.

If you do them annually, keep them going. If you haven’t done one in a while, it’s time to give it “that old college try (even if you didn’t go to college).”

For me, I want to stay on my own fitness track — run at least two half-marathons — and read more novels.

Come Thursday, we’ll begin down a new trail in 2026.

For you, it’s another chance to enhance yourself.

Email Jeff Moeller at tneditor@tnonline.com

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What was the best thing that happened to you in 2025?

As the year comes to a close, we’d love to hear about the moments, milestones or memories that meant the most to you. Photos are welcome.

What are you looking forward to in 2026? New beginnings, goals or hopes for the year ahead — share them with us. Send your responses to tneditor@tnonline.com and your story may be featured in our New Year’s edition.