The Wisdom Project

Year-long resolutions don’t work. Here’s how to make 12 ‘micro-resolutions’ instead

David G. Allan
By David G. Allan, CNN
10 minute read
Updated 6:45 AM EST, Fri December 27, 2019
No one maintains their New Year's resolutions all year. But what if you committed to a dozen of them for just one month at a time? Here's what happened when I did.
For the New Year, try 12 monthly 'micro-resolutions' —
No one maintains their New Year's resolutions all year. But what if you committed to a dozen of them for just one month at a time? Here's what happened when I did.
Tragic news raises deep, divided questions about our species. Are people inherently violent? Are some people evil? What is the solution to violence? And our answers are very important. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2018/12/11/health/nonviolence-good-wisdom-project/index.html" target="_blank">Read here.</a>
Breaking news alert: People are inherently good, non-violent —
Tragic news raises deep, divided questions about our species. Are people inherently violent? Are some people evil? What is the solution to violence? And our answers are very important. Read here.
leanza abucayan/cnn
Training for my first marathon led to runners' highs and a few lows as I pushed my average unfit body to its physical -- and mental -- limits. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2018/12/03/health/long-distance-running-wisdom-project/index.html" target="_blank">Read here.</a>
The joy and practical wisdom of running —
Training for my first marathon led to runners' highs and a few lows as I pushed my average unfit body to its physical -- and mental -- limits. Read here.
Leanza abucayan/cnn
The world's longest living people share a devotion to a concept called ikigai, the happiness of being busy at some activity that holds meaning and purpose to them. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2018/11/12/health/ikigai-longevity-happiness-living-to-100-wisdom-project/index.html" target="_blank">Read here.</a> <br />
Ikigai, the Japanese path to live longer, happier —
The world's longest living people share a devotion to a concept called ikigai, the happiness of being busy at some activity that holds meaning and purpose to them. Read here.
Rekindle childhood joy, help the Earth, stay in shape, and practice mindfulness -- all on two wheels. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2018/07/30/health/biking-wisdom-project/index.html">Read here. </a>
Zen and the art of bicycling to work —
Rekindle childhood joy, help the Earth, stay in shape, and practice mindfulness -- all on two wheels. Read here.
alberto mier/cnn
A habit can be our greatest ally -- or most frequent saboteur -- for self-improvement. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2018/01/05/health/habits-wisdom-project/index.html">Read here. </a>
Start a new (good) habit, kill an old (bad) one —
A habit can be our greatest ally -- or most frequent saboteur -- for self-improvement. Read here.
Follow in the footsteps of the founding father's "13 Virtues" personal makeover scheme toward the best version of yourself. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2018/03/01/health/13-virtues-wisdom-project/index.html">Read here. </a>
Ben Franklin's '13 Virtues' path to personal perfection —
Follow in the footsteps of the founding father's "13 Virtues" personal makeover scheme toward the best version of yourself. Read here.
There are easy ways to increase our levels of daily gratitude, and good mental and physical health reasons to do so. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/23/health/thankfulness-wisdom-project/index.html">Read here. </a>
The year of living thankfully —
There are easy ways to increase our levels of daily gratitude, and good mental and physical health reasons to do so. Read here.
ian berry/cnnmoney
Murray is not just a very funny actor; he's an icon who represents, onscreen and off, the longing for a more engaged and awakened life. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/21/health/bill-murray-buddhist-wisdom-project/index.html">Read here. </a>
His Holiness, the Bill Murray —
Murray is not just a very funny actor; he's an icon who represents, onscreen and off, the longing for a more engaged and awakened life. Read here.
ian berry/cnnmoney
Connecting with those around you, adding meaning to your role and hacking how you spend your time can help you love your job. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/05/health/love-job-you-hate-wisdom-project/index.html">Read here. </a>
Fall in love with a job you don't even like, in three steps —
Connecting with those around you, adding meaning to your role and hacking how you spend your time can help you love your job. Read here.
Kenneth Fowler for CNN
A New Year's scheme that worked by rewarding myself for doing something I know I should do anyway, but don't. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/28/health/weight-loss-resolution-wisdom-project/index.html">Read here. </a>
The 'know thyself' weight loss resolution —
A New Year's scheme that worked by rewarding myself for doing something I know I should do anyway, but don't. Read here.
alberto mier/cnn
Star Wars, not the Beatles, is more popular than Jesus, for good reason. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/04/opinions/allan-star-wars/index.html">Read here. </a>
Star Wars: Revenge of the Myth —
Star Wars, not the Beatles, is more popular than Jesus, for good reason. Read here.
Kenneth Fowler/Alberto Mier/CNN
Google engineer Chade-Meng Tan claims he has the secret to a contented, stress-free life. But what happens when you try the happiness advice and look at the science. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/30/health/google-happiness/index.html">Read here. </a>
Google's algorithm for happiness —
Google engineer Chade-Meng Tan claims he has the secret to a contented, stress-free life. But what happens when you try the happiness advice and look at the science. Read here.
Nicole Kim/Special to CNN
Can a 2,000-year-old story help us deal with the most difficult moments of our lives today, even a disaster like Hurricane Katrina? <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/02/health/who-knows-whats-good-or-bad-wisdom-project/index.html">Read here. </a>
Good and bad, it's all the same: a Taoist parable to live by —
Can a 2,000-year-old story help us deal with the most difficult moments of our lives today, even a disaster like Hurricane Katrina? Read here.
Nicole Kim/Special to CNN
We are hardwired to fear new challenges and transition, even though it's usually for the better. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/04/health/change-worth-mastering-wisdom-project/index.html">Read here. </a>
Change, the double-edged sword that's worth mastering —
We are hardwired to fear new challenges and transition, even though it's usually for the better. Read here.
Stewart Scott-Curran/CNN
Most of the things we worry about never happen, but they are still bad for our health. Luckily, there are ways to reduce our natural tendency to fret or, better yet, harness it for good. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/18/health/no-worries-wisdom-project/index.html">Read here. </a>
Not worrying about anything is everything —
Most of the things we worry about never happen, but they are still bad for our health. Luckily, there are ways to reduce our natural tendency to fret or, better yet, harness it for good. Read here.
alberto mier/cnn
Applying to one's life the wisdom and philosophy found everywhere, from ancient texts to pop culture. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/specials/health/the-wisdom-project">See all the columns here.</a>
The Wisdom Project —
Applying to one's life the wisdom and philosophy found everywhere, from ancient texts to pop culture. See all the columns here.
The Wisdom Project

Editor’s Note: This essay is part of a column called The Wisdom Project by David Allan, editorial director of CNN Features. The series is on applying to one’s life the wisdom and philosophy found everywhere, from ancient texts to pop culture. You can follow David at @davidgallan. Don’t miss another Wisdom Project column; subscribe here.