New Year's Resolutions One Week In

Brian Lehrer: All right. We have just a few minutes left here, about 10 minutes left in the show. Let's just do a quick January 7th check-in with you on how your New Year's resolutions are going after one week. 212-433-WNYC, 212-433-9692. Just call in and mention one New Year's resolution that you made. Call right in. You'll get right on. What you've changed in the last seven days, or if you've been unable to stick to it already, what happened? 212-433-9692. You can do this as an affirmation, like saying what your resolution is out loud and on the radio can help you stick to it.

Or this can be a confessional. If you want to have some fun with your early failure. Self-deprecation, welcome here. What road did you start down and what wagon did you already fall off? 212-433-WNYC, 212-433-9692. On either track, this can also help other people, which is the point of many of our personal life call-ins. Just hearing what your resolution is and how it's going on week one can definitely help inspire or reinforce other people's attempts. Call in to help others as well as to help yourself or make fun of yourself. 212-433-WNYC, 212-433-9692.

I have a list of the top New Year's resolutions for 2025. According to survey data published by the statistics website Statista, they have to save more money as the top one than to eat healthier. To exercise more, to lose weight, to spend more time with friends and family, to quit smoking, and to reduce spending on living expenses like food and energy. Those are the top New Year's resolutions that people said they were going to make for this year. Another thing that we're interested in, if you made an unusual New Year's resolution, what was that?

I noticed Dry January that isn't unusual, but it wasn't on the list. Giving up drinking, at least for the month of January. We're going to do a separate segment on that probably later in the week, but you get the idea. What's one New Year's resolution that you made? Here on the 7th of January, one week into the new year, how well are you sticking to it? Call in to affirm yourself, to make fun of yourself, or to help other people with theirs. 212-433-WNYC or mention your most unusual New Year's resolution if you think you have a most unusual one that would go on that list. 212-433-WNYC, 212-433-9692. Short segment, call right in. You'll get right on. We'll take your calls right after this.

[MUSIC - Marden Hill: Hijack]

Brian Lehrer on WNYC. Quick note, All Of It has Roy Wood Jr. today. The comedian, Roy, will join Alison to talk about his new comedy special Lonely Flowers, which airs next week on Hulu. Plus a live performance from Grammy-nominated jazz artist Orrin Evans coming up at noon, which is just a few minutes from now with Alison Stewart on WNYC.

Now to your New Year's resolutions and how they're going here on day seven of 2025. Jan in Brooklyn, you're on WNYC. Hi, Jan.

Jan: Hi. My resolution this year was to do something active. I wanted to keep it open-ended as to make it a little more attainable, do something active at least five days a week. Unfortunately, right after the new year, we went to visit family and a lot of people came down with the norovirus. In an effort to not spread that, I seem to be lucky enough and have not caught it. I wanted to play it safe and not be contagious. I was not able to stay active all those days but I'm eager to get back into it. I will say that it did make it easier to not fail in my Dry January so far. That is a positive at least. Be careful out there. The norovirus is raging.

Brian Lehrer: Jan, thank you very much. Erin in Brooklyn, you're on WNYC. Hi, Erin.

Erin: Hi. I try to keep things low-stakes. My resolution is to floss every day, and so far I've made it seven days in a row.

Brian Lehrer: Flossing your teeth. That's a good, simple New Year's resolution. Brian on the Upper West Side, you're on WNYC. Hi, Brian.

Brian: Hey, Brian. Seven days in and I feel incredible. I am tracking my food so I know exactly what goes into it. The salt, the protein, the carbs, the fat, all of that stuff. I have to say, I'm an inch down, the bloat's gone, I'm feeling good and I'm overall kinder and nicer to the people around me.

Brian Lehrer: Good start. Thank you very much. Here's one funny one that came in on a text message. Listener writes, "I made no resolutions, so it's going great." Tom in upstate New York, where in upstate New York. There's a lot of places.

Tom: Oh, sure. Wappinger Falls in New York.

Brian Lehrer: Not that far.

Tom: My resolution forward is to continue coaching my kids at my school wrestling. 57 years old, taking behind my son, who is a top jiu-jitsu combat competitor at 20 is his birthday today. Still fight the good fight against politicians who do not do the right thing for their constituents. Continue my community service as a volunteer fireman for 35 years.

Brian Lehrer: Nice.

Tom: Also take care of my veterans and people that don't have the backing or the hand. Somebody strong that you're the person I want on your wall, but rarely talks about.

Brian Lehrer: That's really nice, Tom. New Year's resolution in support of others, not just himself. Listener writes, "So far I've stuck to my YouTube guitar lessons. I found a time of day when it nearly fits into my routine after dinner while my daughter is showering. I'm hoping that will keep me consistent." Aria in Crown Heights, you're on WNYC. Hey there.

Aria: Hi. My resolution is absolutely to sell a home by the end of-- or I guess before the end of the year. That'd be great. I'm actually from Jersey and I want to get my real estate license there, but I'm just sort of putting it out in the air. I don't have any kind of business to advertise, so don't come to me quite so fast. Yes, that'd be my goal is to--

Brian Lehrer: Try and sell a home other than your own. Good luck. Meryl in Port Washington, you're on WNYC. Hi, Meryl. What's your resolution?

Meryl: My resolution is the same one I had last year, which was to not honk at anybody on the road for any reason whatsoever. I only did it twice last year for when I was in the shopping center and people looked like they were going to back up into me. I have absolutely let it slide. I'm at a light and that guy in front of me, I count to five and he's still sitting there and I don't move or beep an inch.

Brian Lehrer: Meryl with less road rage on Long Island from Port Washington. We'll get a neighbor a little further east in [unintelligible 00:07:50]. Margaret, you have five seconds. What's your New Year's resolution?

Margaret: I can do it in five seconds. My New Year's resolution is to broaden my knowledge of the world. I've been learning Korean--

Brian Lehrer: You've been learning Korean. Listeners, thank you for your resolution calls.

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