My List of New Year’s Resolutions (and How I’ll Achieve Each)
Introduction
It’s that time of year when I secretly eat chocolate, dream of eggnog, and write everything down that I will do differently in the new year. While most people run away from resolutions, I embrace them. It’s a chance to check in on ME and create a new normal. I usually begin this process by compiling a list of day-to-day stressors. Eventually, it results in a specific list of changes, each with a resolution plan. With this being said, here is my expansive list of New Year’s resolutions and how I will achieve each! Here I come, 2019!
List of New Year’s Resolutions
New Year’s Resolution: I will sleep 7.5 hours per night.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: Of all of the health and fitness tips I recommend, nothing is more valuable than a whole night’s rest. Based on my physical self-study, I’ve determined that 7.5 hours is ideal for proper recovery. I feel ready to take on the world on those days, and my creativity flows like an easy stream. Although the number of hours of sleep will be a priority, I will also ensure that bedtime falls within a 60-minute range for consistency.
New Year’s Resolution: I will write my second book.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: I’ve been talking about it for months (instead of years like I usually do) and have started this process 2 weeks ago. To ensure its completion, I’m dedicating 30-minute writing sessions on 5 weekdays each week. Modest, approachable, and adaptable.
New Year’s Resolution: I will say, with reasonable certainty, "I understand," before I say any one of the following things: "I agree," or "I disagree," or "I suspend judgment."
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: I want to challenge what I really understand during a conversation. Instead of offering an opinion, I will confirm the other person’s point vocally and then express a judgment based on the facts. I will also try to identify my biases and express those explicitly. And, yes, I will accept the luck that you wish me right now. I'm armed and ready to take on this approach, but I need to make it a habit. I plan to add this resolution to the top of my day-to-day calendar as a reminder.
New Year’s Resolution: I will stop fiddling with my phone while driving.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: I will purchase a phone mount for my dashboard. I hope this will limit fumbling with my phone or peering down at it to see the GPS. Cheers to a safer road for everyone!
New Year’s Resolution: I will integrate an efficient calendar system for taxes, bills that aren’t automated, anniversaries and birthdays, and home maintenance.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: I will set aside 60 minutes on New Year’s Day to schedule everything that needs to be planned in my life for the year in Google Calendar. Once I receive the email reminder, I must take action within 60 minutes, or as soon as possible.
New Year’s Resolution: I will thoroughly write a set of childcare instructions for our babysitters.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: I will set aside 15 minutes on New Year’s Day to write a set of childcare instructions for our babysitters with my wife and save them on my phone. I will also print a version and stick it on the side of the fridge.
New Year’s Resolution: I will reorganize my closets to make whatever I need easier to access.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: I will install shelving in the common hallways and reorganize the downstairs and master bedroom closets. I will create a map to show the placement of these items for quick access.
New Year’s Resolution: I will create a top ten list of easy, healthy go-to meals.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: I will list the meals I already enjoy and begin experimenting with at least one dish/recipe each week. I will befriend Instapot cookbooks.
New Year’s Resolution: I will integrate at least one different ethnic dish each day.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: I will use the ethnic seasoning guide from Dr. Fuhrman’s book, End of Dieting, to add a different taste profile to a dish each day as a minimum-effort approach. For more options, I will return to my new friend, the Instant Pot cookbook.
New Year’s Resolution: I will invite my 19-month-old son, Preston, to help me with any task I’m completing in front of him.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: While it may seem like I’m encouraging child labor here, I’m really stimulating Preston’s neurons and teaching him the basics of life, such as cleaning out a dishwasher, throwing garbage away, and completing my taxes. Too often, I complete a task without considering it as a teachable moment. Interestingly enough, Preston loves to help! Who would have known that he loved tax work!
New Year’s Resolution: I will create and stick to a new fitness routine each month.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: I always write programs for my personal training clients, but I rarely make the time to design one for myself! I need a personal trainer too, you know! Moving forward, I will create a new 5-day program during the last week of every month.
New Year’s Resolution: I will check my phone only once in the 2 hours before bed.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: No matter how tired I am, a phone or computer has electrifying effects on my brain. Not only does this stimulation affect my ability to fall asleep, but it also disrupts my present-minded state. I will set a daily alarm to remind me to shut off before I shut down for rest.
New Year’s Resolution: I will read one book per month.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: Reading has always helped me reason with clarity. It somehow brings structure to my wandering thoughts, which improves my day-to-day focus, comprehension, and communication. I will read 10 pages per day to achieve this goal each month.
New Year’s Resolution: I will perform at least 5 minutes on the Stairmaster every weekday.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: Humans depend on oxygen. Cardiovascular activities, like the dreaded Stairmaster, increase lung capacity and improve stamina. Most importantly, it increased my access to oxygen…hence this resolution.
New Year’s Resolution: I will simplify my budget so that every bill is automated from 1 bank account.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: Simple and automated equals less stress. Trying to figure out which bill is being paid from which account while transferring money between accounts is inefficient and often frustrating. No mas!! Simplify, simplify! This process has already started and will be audited on New Year’s Day.
New Year’s Resolution: I will reach out to one person I haven't spoken to in over a month each week.
Wedding Officiant Wisdom: I admit I get lost in the day-to-day obligations of life. Along the way, great friends and family have fallen victim to my silence. Since relationship maintenance is a priority, I will choose one new person I haven’t spoken to in over a month and reach out via text or phone —a small effort but a worthwhile way to stay in touch.
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.
Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.
If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
