New Year’s Resolutions We Would Have Made in the 1980s

Before goal-tracking apps, vision boards, and smart watches became all the rage, New Year’s resolutions in the 1980s were simpler and somehow more stressful. They were scribbled on paper, discussed over coffee, or casually announced during a New Year’s Day hangover while the TV played yesterday’s parade reruns. Resolutions weren’t about “mindfulness” or “work-life balance.” They were about self-improvement, discipline, and fixing whatever felt slightly out of control. Looking back, they say a lot about how we lived and what mattered the most to us in the 80s.

Here’s a look at the New Year’s resolutions we absolutely would have made back then.

• Get in Shape Aerobics Style If it was the 1980s, getting fit meant aerobics. Jane Fonda, Richard Simmons, and brightly colored VHS tapes promised a better body if you just committed to leg warmers and high kicks. Resolutions included joining a gym, dusting off the exercise bike, or finally sticking to a workout routine. Whether it lasted until February was another story.
• Lose Weight Weight loss resolutions were everywhere in the 80s. Diets were trendy, calorie counting was common, and “low-fat” foods filled grocery shelves. This goal often went hand in hand with aerobics, fewer TV dinners, and a promise to stop eating so much junk food, despite the constant temptation of snacks during prime-time TV.
• Quit Smoking (or at least cut back) Smoking was still common in the 1980s, but awareness was growing. Many New Year’s resolutions involved quitting, cutting back, or switching brands. Ashtrays sat on coffee tables, and quitting was often treated as a test of willpower rather than a health journey. Still, January 1 felt like the right time to try.
• Save More Money Saving money usually meant opening, or adding to, a real savings account at the bank. No apps or automatic transfers, just discipline. People resolved to spend less at the mall, curb impulse purchases, and stop relying on credit cards so much. Big goals included saving for a car, a house, or a long-awaited vacation.
• Get Organized The 80s loved organization. New planners, wall calendars, filing systems, and label makers were everywhere. A fresh year meant a fresh day planner, neatly written appointments, and a determination to finally get life “together.” For a while, at least.
• Dress Better Fashion mattered. Resolutions often included dressing more professionally for work or more stylishly for school. This could mean updating a wardrobe, following trends more closely, or finally letting go of outdated styles, though the line between fashionable and questionable was thin in the 80s.
• Watch Less TV (or MTV) Ironically, during one of television’s golden eras, many people resolved to watch less of it. MTV was blamed for wasted hours, and parents worried kids were glued to the screen. Still, between sitcoms, music videos, and late-night movies, the TV usually won.
• Call Friends and Family More Often Without texting or social media, staying in touch required effort. New Year’s resolutions often included calling relatives more often, writing letters, or reconnecting with old friends. Long-distance calls were expensive, so this resolution usually came with a mental note to keep conversations short.
• Get Better Grades or Work Harder Students resolved to study more, procrastinate less, and improve grades. Adults made similar promises about work. Be more productive, arrive on time, and take their job more seriously. These goals reflected the decade’s emphasis on ambition, success, and climbing the ladder.
• Learn Something New Whether it was cooking, playing an instrument, or mastering the VCR, learning new skills felt like a worthy New Year’s goal. Many people resolved to cook at least one “real” meal, practice piano again, or finally understand how to program the blinking clock.
• Spend More Time with Family Despite busy schedules and growing independence, family still mattered deeply in the 80s. Resolutions often included having more family dinners, taking trips together, or simply being home more often, especially during a time when work and TV competed for attention.
• Be Less Stressed and Enjoy Life More Even in the fast-paced 1980s, people recognized burnout. While they didn’t call it “self-care,” many resolved to relax more, worry less, and enjoy life. It was a quieter goal, but one that reflected a desire for balance amid all the ambition.

Looking Back 

Much like today's resolutions, New Year’s resolutions in the 1980s were honest, hopeful, and sometimes a little unrealistic. They reflected a decade focused on improvement, image, and progress, but also on family, connection, and simple routines. And while many of those resolutions faded by February, the optimism behind them feels timeless. Maybe that’s why looking back at them still feels comforting, much like a fresh notebook page, just waiting to be filled up. 

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