New Year's resolutions for whimsy, not

New Year's resolutions for whimsy, not | Daily Tribune

New Year’s resolutions often come with a familiar sense of dread, the quiet fear that we’ll fail before the year even really begins. And for good reason. Most resolution lists are filled with practical, socially approved goals, dictated by how success, worth, and productivity are measured: Save more money, cut back on sugar, buy a car... blah blah.

But why should New Year’s resolutions be boxed into such mundane categories?

The holiday comes at the tail end of December, a month already steeped in celebration. And if there’s one thing December does well, it’s filling the air with magic and whimsy. Maybe that energy, the childlike joy of the season, is something worth carrying into the new year. Instead of measuring ourselves against society’s expectations, why not make a list that genuinely delights us? Goals that make us happy simply by doing them, not because of what they might eventually produce.

With that in mind, here are some of the things I’m adding to my New Year’s resolutions.

In 2026, I will:

Pet more dogs.

Ideally, at least a hundred. This also doubles as a way to overcome my fear of talking to strangers. I even have a script ready: “Hi there, I think your dog is adorable. Can I pet them?” Then I respect whatever the owner says. The worst they can do is say no, and I still get to enjoy seeing a cute dog that day.

Try food that isn’t just chicken and french fries.

I have an extremely limited palate and tend to stay firmly in my comfort zone. But by doing that, I miss out on so many flavors the world has to offer. Honestly, for a Filipino, my taste buds resemble those of a bland white man who thinks salted potatoes are peak cuisine. I only discovered in 2025 that I liked Middle Eastern food. Who knows what I’ll discover about myself in 2026?

Write down one thing that made me happy each day.

A coworker made me laugh? Writing that down and their joke into my journal. A cat sat on my lap and purred? Also in the journal. By the end of the year, I’d like to have 365 small reasons I was happy—something tangible to look back on when days feel heavy.

Treat myself at least once a month.

It doesn’t have to be fancy. It could be a day spent eating ice cream, staying in pyjamas, and rewatching my favourite show for the nth time. Or maybe saving enough for shopping and eating out. Having something to look forward to each month can make even the slowest weeks feel manageable.

Collect one coffee bean from every coffee shop I visit.

Okay, don’t quote me on this, but surely pinching a single bean from a display bag isn’t a crime. Just one bean, into a jar. By the end of the year, I’ll see how many coffee shops I visited, and I’ll have a fragrant jar I can sniff whenever I need a pick-me-up.

Find something to compliment about everyone I pass by.

I don’t even have to say it out loud if I’m too shy. I can just think it. But training myself to notice something positive about others might help me become less critical of myself. And if I do say the compliment out loud, who knows? Maybe it’s exactly what that person needed that day.

I’m sure I’ll think of more, but for now, these are my fun New Year’s resolutions. The key, I think, is letting go of what society tells us we should want, so long as we’re happy and not hurting anyone, including ourselves.

What about you? What will you do to make 2026 a little brighter, lighter, and more fun?