Some resolve; Some resolve not to resolve

People tend to have a love-hate, take-them-or-leave-them relationship with New Year's resolutions, it seems.

Some believe making annual resolutions is a worthless effort. Others, though they annually fail abysmally at achieving their goals, enthusiastically set new goals each January.

Anastasia Jantz, who works at the Museum Shop in downtown Frederick, said she doesn't make New Year's resolutions because she doesn't allow a particular date or time of year to dictate such actions. If she has a need to address something in her life, she just does it.

Bartender Jason Hardesty, who works at Isabella's, said he's going to make the same resolution in 2009 that he made in 2008, but believes he has a better plan of action to help him succeed.

He wants to eliminate his credit card debt. He didn't quite succeed in 2008, but feels confident that 2009 is his year.

"That's pretty much the only personal one I've got, considering that's the only thing really holding me back from doing a lot of things right now."

Reducing or eliminating debt is one resolution experts think will be more popular for 2009, given the uncertainty of today's economy.

"This is going to be a very different year for many people," Greg Helmstetter, CEO of myGoals.com, states in a press release. "In 2009, we expect people to forego big moves, career changes or vacations, and instead focus on reconnecting with friends, spending time with family, and organizing and improving their home."

Here in Frederick, resolutions made by those interviewed for this story reflect those expectations. Organizing homes and decreasing personal debt were common wishes expressed by people at Francis Scott Key Mall and in downtown Frederick.

But just as many people said they don't bother making resolutions at all.

Around town

Church Street resident Jane Mackley said she can't remember if she made a 2008 resolution, but she's ready for 2009.

"I've been procrastinating too long about getting things organized around the house and getting rooms painted and getting on the stick with all of that," she said. "Hopefully it will be a better year for getting things done around the house."

Kathy Rohwer, a Montgomery County Public Schools second-grade teacher, said she prefers the word "goal" to resolution, and works with her students to set academic goals.

"I think goal setting is important and we'll set those goals when we go back Jan. 5," she said Tuesday while shopping in downtown Frederick.

Her students set class goals such as getting better spelling scores, and personal ones, including being nicer to a brother or sister, Rohwer said.

"I ask my students to come up with three steps to take toward their goal, so they understand it's a process," she said. "They take baby steps, and the goal is easier to achieve."

At the mall

Christine Zocchi and Valarie Harrison, both of New Market, resolved to get organized in 2008.

Zocchi said she didn't manage to reach her goal this year, held back by time constraints and taking care of her children, but she plans to try again in 2009.

Harrison did organize her home, but only in the past two weeks. She said she told her husband to take two weeks off work to watch the kids while she got the job done.

"I couldn't let another year go by and not take control of this," she said.

Chris Moxley, of Mount Airy, said he wanted to stay in shape and stop drinking so much soda during 2008, so he joined a gym and started drinking water and vitamin water. He said the key to keeping resolutions is simple: "You just got to stick with it."

Renee Lafferman of Monrovia said she doesn't make New Year's resolutions.

"My theory is to think about things you are doing throughout the year and make small little goals as needed, not to come up with one huge life change you're going to try to make on Jan. 1," she said.

Back to basics

People are scaling back and feathering their nests to wait out the recession, according to myGoals.com.

"People want to fix up their current homes, organize their closets, work on the yard, and make their lives more pleasant, more livable -- without spending much money," Helmstetter said. "It's as though they expect things to be tough going for a while, and are digging in for what could be a long winter."

But not all is gloom and doom, according to Helmstetter. Despite a downturn in personal goals that mirrors the downturn in the economy, Helmstetter said his group isn't seeing much pessimism.

"The tone is serious, but seems to be merely conveying a return to basic things like simplicity, hearth-and-home, family, friends -- the stuff that ultimately matters most."

-- Ashley Andyshak, Stephanie Mlot, Marge Neal, Justin Palk

Copyright 2008 The Frederick News-Post. All rights reserved.