I posted this blog about New Year's resolutions back in 2008, but I found out a little more on Wikipedia that I thought I would share with you.

The nature of New Year's resolutions has changed during the last decades, with many resolutions being more superficial and appearance-oriented than in previous times. At the end of the 19th century, a typical teenage girl's New Year's resolution was focused on good works: she resolved to become less self-centered, more helpful, a more diligent worker, and to improve her internal character. Body image, health, diet, and desired possessions were rarely mentioned. At the end of the 20th century, the typical teenage girl's resolution is focused on good looks: she wants to improve her body, hairstyle, makeup, and clothing. 

Brumberg, Joan Jacobs (1998). The body project: an intimate history of American girls. New York: Vintage Books. pp. xx–xxi. ISBN 0-679-73529-1.

Early 20th-century New Year's resolution postcards ~ from Wikimedia Commons

 I found the resolutions below for 2013 at FastCompany. They are pretty catchy.

1. GRAB THE YEAR BY THE EARS.
   Look back at 2012 and celebrate your successes and identify your failures. Map what you learned from both and think about what you want to change in the year ahead. Define what success looks like for 2013, setting audacious and achievable goals. Envision what you want the year to look like, literally. Write a list by month, write a year-end letter to yourself, or build a dream board, but don't go into 2013 without knowing what you want success to look like. Map out how you'll get there and what resources you'll need.
2. VALUES ARE VALUABLES.
   Revisit your values and what's important to you on a personal level. These foundational principles should guide decisions around how you live and work. List the principles that are central to who you are and guide how you think and behave. Put your values to work daily throughout the year ahead. If it feels like we're walking away from the founding values this country was successfully built on do what Gandhi advised and, "be the change you want to see in the world." Decide what you really care about and the role you can play in helping make a positive change in the world.
3. GRATITUDE IS THE ATTITUDE.
   It's a universal truth that grateful people are happy people. Start every day with gratitude and thanks for the chance to live your life in a country that promotes freedom and the opportunity to be your best. Say thank you often and mean it.
4. TRASH THE SMALL STUFF.
   Like most people, you probably waste too much time on the small, insignificant, time-sucking, going-nowhere stuff. Make a list of the things you do that waste time every day and list what you're going to do to change your behavior.
5. DON'T MAKE MONEY YOUR GOD
   The sage father of my first girlfriend gave me some very simple advice that is as relevant today as it was then. He said, "Never make money your god." I've been asked many times this year whether the purpose for a company is to make a profit, and my answer has been the same every time, "Making a profit is the by-product of a clearly defined purpose." As individuals we know money creates choices but it doesn't answer our need for purpose. Make sure money is not the reason or rationale behind what you do.

Continue reading at FastCompany for the remaining 5 resolutions.