Apparently last year’s resolution to overcome procrastination didn’t take.

I also tell her how I recently noticed the word “Resolution” is actually a two-part word: Re and Solution. Re-Solution sounds like taking a second stab at something tried but not entirely accomplished during the first attempt — which nicely describes my success at keeping resolutions. You could say I’m Re-Solving a problem. This usually requires some level of personal resolve.

So I reevaluate my 2025 re-solutions that remain unsolved. Along with “Overcome Procrastination” is “Paint a room” and “Make photo albums.” Topping the list is “Get more sleep” to overcome my wretched practice of going to bed so late. Every. Single. Night.

It’s a habit that desperately needs re-solving because I’m tired of being tired. Each evening’s failure begins with well-intended self-talk: “Look, it’s only 8 p.m. This is absolutely the night I can get to bed by 10 p.m. I don’t have that much left to do; I just have to …” And this is where I fail. Because I foolishly believe I can do all things in a record amount of time. This night I will clean off the kitchen counters, take out the trash, fold the laundry, order the thing online I’ve wanted to order for a week now, clean out my car’s trunk, recycle the stack of newspapers in the bathroom, water my plants, finish crocheting a scarf I’m working on, and check my email to see if my sister sent some pictures she promised. All before I go to bed.

You can see where this goes. I don’t get half of that done, but I stay up trying. And there goes another midnight night, another re-solution still waiting to be re-solved.

Most of us begin the year with a look back at our past year and some sort of commitment to change or do better in the new year. But I wonder how many of us make resolutions we can’t keep. Repeatedly. So I check out New Year’s re-solutions online. I’m shocked at the first item featured: “Top 45 New Year’s Resolutions You Can Actually Keep.”

What? A list of 45 Resolutions???

I can’t keep four. What would I do with 45?

But I’m already here so I take a look. The first item is “Eat more vegetables.” The second one makes me laugh: “Get more sleep.” The next one is, “Spend more time with your family” followed by, “Give yourself a break from your computer.” Up to this point this list sounds like advice Mom would give.

Looking around online I find lots of lists from lots of resources. None of them seem complete, but collectively they yield concepts that resonate. So I start my own list, reducing them to 2-word re-solutions. Eventually I have 26 re-solutions for 2026:

Eat healthier. Cook wiser. Sleep longer. Stretch more. Exercise more.

Embrace family. Volunteer often. Write letters. Call friends.

Reduce stuff. Buy less. Avoid waste. Save money.

Decrease texting. Start journaling. Reduce online. Read books. Vacation more.

Go outside. Grow something. Walk daily. Appreciate nature.

Be braver. Be bolder. Be wiser. Be kinder.

I don’t know why I think a list of 26 is going to be more successful than a list of a few. Maybe it’s because they’re so succinct, therefore so measurable. Mom used to say you can’t manage what you can’t measure. Some of these re-solutions are easily measurable: either I write a letter or I don’t, I exercise or I don’t, I grow something or I don’t. Some aren’t as clear. But I’ll know when I avoid waste or am braver or bolder or wiser. Or kinder. I may not be able to explain it to others, but I’ll know, and that will be enough.

I actually look forward to re-solving these re-solutions.

Tomorrow.

Because right now it’s 10 p.m.

Good night.