I’ve always had a problem with New Year’s Resolutions.

Like most people, I start out with good intentions, high energy and high commitment. Promises made on the last day of the year have mostly been about losing weight, doing more exercise, eating less etc; healthy resolutions, that historically were too easily broken with easy excuses.

Will this year be any different?

Inspired by a colleague, I am now doing push-ups and sit-ups/crunches on a daily basis. Every day. Without missing a single day, yet.

The deal is this: Starting January 1st I do 1 push-up and 1 crunch. January 2nd I do 2 of each and this continues until the end of the year (or until I break the resolution). On New Year’s Eve I will do 365 and I will have done a total of 66.795 throughout the year.

OK, honestly I didn’t start on January 1st. I started on the 7th by catching up the lost exercise with 1+2+3+4+5+6+7=28 pushups and crunches. It was hard. And painful in the morning of the 8th.

Today will be doing 72 and total Year To Date of 2.628 (if my spreadsheet is correct).

I’ve followed this program for 2½ months now. During the course of the year, Elliott has been born – but this has not made me break the resolution – for one simple reason: It’s so simple to follow and requires no equipment, no special investment gym clothes. All it requires is motivation and a few minutes to spare in the morning, in the afternoon or evening.

The feeling of doing exercise every day is great. The feeling of accomplishment, even this early into the program, is also great, and I hope to follow the program for a while – maybe even through the year.

New Year’s resolutions are in most cases  too easy to break, but this time it’s been a lot easier to keep…. Until further notice that is…