The Quiet Power Of A Fresh Start

Watching the clock strike midnight, toasting the beginning of the year with fine wine, eating ‘lucky’ foods, singing "Auld Lang Syne," bursting crackers, making resolutions…new year traditions abound around the world. One that seems to be quite common across the globe is making New Year's resolutions – a promise to oneself to do better, quit a bad habit, start a new one, or achieve a goal.

It is estimated that between 40 to 50% of people worldwide set new goals and targets at the beginning of the year. While those numbers cannot be ascertained, a nationwide TIPP Poll found that in America, 44% planned on making New Year’s resolutions for 2026. The rest had no plans to do so.

While at a glance it may look as though New Year's resolutions have lost their charm, a closer look at the numbers reveals a different picture. The Poll finds that New Year's resolutions are still popular among the younger age groups and decline in appeal as one grows older.

Resolutions are an indicator that one has paused from the hustle of daily life and taken the time to ponder. They are often the result of introspection and evaluation. Regardless of whether it is stated or silent, it is a clear intention. It is an effort to improve some aspect of one’s life. It is a promise to one’s future self to try harder, do something differently, and strive to be better.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Americans are most focused on improving their physical health and financial stability. More than half of the participants in the TIPP Poll resolved to focus on eating a healthier diet, pay closer attention to their finances, and pursue a more physically active lifestyle.

While two-fifths intended to spend more time with their families, more than a third aspire to learn a new skill, and an equal percentage wanted to lose weight. Interestingly, resolutions to quit vices, such as smoking and time on social media, garnered almost the same numbers at nineteen and twenty percent, respectively.

Some resolutions, inadvertently, reflect what stage of life one is at. For instance, saving for retirement and reducing credit card debt become higher priorities as one ages. Meanwhile, learning new skills and acquiring new hobbies top the list for youngsters, as does making time for family. However, some goals, such as exercising regularly and eating healthy, are evergreen and are not restricted by age or other criteria.

While making resolutions requires taking an honest, analytical look at one’s life and lifestyle, sticking to them and achieving the desired results calls for discipline and diligence. Resolutions can work as motivators and help one create a clear plan to achieve lasting changes. Finding buddies to partner with, making oneself accountable to another, or keeping a journal to track progress are methods that would make it easier to stick to one’s resolutions.

Experts, however, suggest that instead of forcing oneself to stick to plans rigidly or giving up on them entirely after a few failed attempts, taking periodic stock will lead to greater success. While the focus remains on the goal, tweaks and necessary changes could help one stay the course.

The beginning of the year seems like the opportune time to embark on a new path, and resolutions are a gentle reminder that growth is a continuous journey. Small steps towards becoming a better version of oneself, with or without a New Year's resolution, are goals we can all aim for in 2026. Happy New Year!

👉 Quick Reads

I. World Agenda January 2026

January’s global calendar spans milestones across politics, faith, and diplomacy, including the opening month of President Trump’s second year of his second term, the formal withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization, the confirmation of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro, Uganda’s general elections, proceedings in the Myanmar genocide case, and the departure of giant pandas from Japan.

II. The Year Cinema Comes Roaring Back

After years of pandemic-era disruption, 2026 is shaping up to be the biggest global box-office year since 2019, with a packed slate of long-awaited blockbusters set to draw audiences back to theaters in force.

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2. Why Would California Bureaucrats Want To Blow Up Dams And Take Water From 600K? Victor Davis Hanson Explains—Victor Davis Hanson, The Daily Signal

3. How Trump Outmaneuvered The Economists—Editorial Board, TIPP Insights

4. Why The US Is Worried About China’s Military Drills—Brent Sadler, The Daily Signal

5. Trump Warns Iran Of Possible Strike, Urges Hamas To Disarm After Meeting Netanyahu—Andrea Shalal, Maayan Lubell & Gram Slattery via The Daily Signal

6. 8 Political Winners And Losers Of 2025—Tyler O'Neil, The Daily Signal

7. Minnesota Fraud Scandal Exposes The Real Crisis Facing The West—Jarrett Stepman, The Daily Signal

8. Calls Come For Fraud Investigations Into Ohio Day Cares—Rebecca Downs, The Daily Signal

9. This Republican Leader Is The Loudest In Minnesota Fraud Discussion—George Caldwell, The Daily Signal

10. Bari Weiss And The Myth Of The Political Center—Connor O'Keeffe, Mises Wire

11. Judge Hands Media Major Win In Charlie Kirk Murder Trial—Nicole Silverio, Daily Caller News Foundation

12. Court Halts Termination Of Deportation Protections For South Sudanese Nationals—Nate Raymond via The Daily Signal

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15. What Spanberger Vetoes In 2026 Will Tell Us A Lot About 2028—Joe Thomas, The Daily Signal

16.New Details Emerge On Venezuela Port Attack—George Caldwell, The Daily Signal

17. Trump DOJ Sues State Giving Illegal Immigrants Massive In-State Tuition Breaks—Jaryn Crouson, Daily Caller News Foundation

18. Somali Fraud Story Explodes Due To The Democratization Of DOGE—Jarrett Stepman, The Daily Signal

19. Why Bryce Reeves Dropped Out Of Virginia Senate Race—Joe Thomas, The Daily Signal

20. Trump Should Seize This Opportunity To Correct His Unforced Error—Peter Parisi, The Daily Signal

21. “Free” Health Care Will Not Fix America’s Medical Crisis—Robert Blumen, Mises Wire

22. Making New Year’s Resolutions That Matter—Tom Griffin, The Daily Signal

From TIPP Insights News Editor

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27. Trump Issues First Vetoes Of New Term, Blocks Bipartisan Bills

28. Trump Administration Freezes Minnesota Childcare Funds Over Fraud Claims