It is very common in a relaxed holiday mode at the end of a year to contemplate changes that one would really like to carry out. Magazines, newspaper articles and television news are prime influences on people to put their intentions on paper.
They usually appear just before New Year's Eve after a week of feasting, drinking and partying filling people up with guilt and feelings of inaction. Persuasiveness is their game!
The health experts, writers, motivational speakers, fitness trainers etc even have suggestions like exercise more, get out into nature every day, reduce your work hours, make more time for family and friends, get into touch with your inner self through meditation and so on. Or perhaps, it might be to go for that management job or change jobs, make a sea change, get out of your rut. It is very individual.

The underlying message is, out with the old set habits and develop a more healthy happier social fit type of lifestyle that is good for your health and emotional and mental wellbeing. It all sounds so easy to achieve. It is definitely easy in a group of friends to spontaneously declare your intention in a spur of the moment well meaning moment when you feel highly inspired to change.
One can be as creative or as ideal as one wants, and one can have as many resolutions and as one wants. It is totally individual, whether it is intended in the long run or is only a momentary burst of enthusiasm. What individuals tend to do is to look back on all their slack behaviours of little or no exercise or laying on the couch watching sport.
Whether you say it or write your intentions on paper, how well do you actually do with carrying them out? Generally it is found that while people have the best intention to bring in changes they fizzle out dramatically. To be fair, I hear that there are individuals who enthusiastically start a walking, cycling, running program only to stop in a short time because it is a time factor or sleeping an extra hour takes precedence. Or I hear that some individuals do not try at all, they meant to but it just does not happen. Or, on the bright side there are people who mean every word they declare and embrace the change long term.
What is the secret to hanging in with resolutions? First of all, being aware that deciding on an intentional and doing it are two different things. It is tough to put an idea like getting up early and exercising into action, especially when one is in the habit of sleeping in late. Having a friends or friends to run, cycle, swim or walk with is highly motivating, one does not wish to lose face or let the friends down.

Success also depends on your personality type. Are you a determined tenacious person who once you put your mind to something you do it whether it is on your own or with friends? Favourable outcomes are a given! However, the easygoing I would like to change but ...personality types are not likely to persevere.
Understanding that habits are hard work to get rid off is a good starting point. One really has to hang in there to change behaviours.
Good luck to anyone who is wanting to make New Year resolutions or maybe it is not luck at all. It is totally up to you if you really want to change your behaviours or lifestyle. And if you are a personality type that needs to pay a personal trainer to get you and going, then go for it.

Whatever works for you, everyone is different and that is perfectly okay.
Cheers and Blessings
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Sitting and sharing Christmas dinner is the best part of the season.