Here's where northern Ontario residents stand on 2025 New Year's resolutions

As the calendar turns to 2025, some people in northern Ontario and worldwide are reflecting on the past year and debating the merits of New Year's resolutions.

More than half of the 1,251 U.S. adults surveyed earlier this month in an AP-NORC poll said they plan to make at least one resolution for 2025. Milennials and Gen Z respondents were especially likely to be on board — about two-thirds expected to do so, compared to about half of older adults. Women were also more likely than men to say they would set a goal for the new year.

New Year's resolutions are a universal tradition, but many people interpret and adapt them to fit their personal lives.

Sudbury resident Lucie Plante takes an unconventional approach to self-improvement. She says for her, change happens spontaneously rather than through grand declarations.

"I don't keep [New Year's resolutions]," she said. "I prefer to, during the year, just say okay, I've got to change that. But not a big thing,  just small things in my life."

For Sault Ste. Marie resident, Dipeeka Luitel, 2024 was a milestone year filled with personal achievements, including getting engaged and travelling for conferences. She's undecided about setting resolutions this year.

"In previous years I've had very specific goals and I feel like that is sometimes a little bit intimidating to try to accomplish. So rather than having one specific goal in mind, I'd just like to have a general one, maybe be healthy as a New Year's resolution," said Luitel. 

Clarinda Arula, from Sudbury, uses a more structured method: vision boards.

"Usually I do [set resolutions]. I have a little bit of a vision board going on," she explained. 

This year, her board features goals like camping and completing her social work studies, which she plans to finish by late 2025.

Emily Bryant spent the summer of 2024 planting trees in New Brunswick, an experience she described as transformative.

"I feel like I learned a lot about myself this year," she shared. 

Despite her growth, she's not one to set resolutions.

"I just want to stabilize. I'm mostly just trying to be happy and enjoy my time," she said.

While their approaches differ, a common theme emerges: New Year's resolutions are deeply personal and often reflect broader aspirations rather than the specific checking of boxes.