To not have any at all.
To me, I don't need to wait until New Year's Eve or New Year's Day to make myself a better person, lose weight or quit smoking. And the fact that I don't smoke to begin with just means that I've been able to keep the last resolution.
What I don't like about New Year's resolutions is that they're set up unrealistically without expectations of how to confront obstacles when they arise. Then the resolutions are abandoned when the going gets tough, only to be revisited and re-established set Dec. 31 or Jan. 1. And the vicious cycle continues.
Seriously, what's the point of resolutions anyway? To make this year better than last year? To make yourself a better person in 2013? To let go of the past and look to the future? LO-frickin'-L!
Why couldn't all those goals be made in July or around Halloween, instead of Dec. 31 or Jan. 1? And if a goal is set and a person falls off the wagon, why can't he/she get back on the horse and try again to pursue such goals?
Forbes.com has published an excellent article "8 Reasons Your New Year's Resolutions Didn't Stick (and What To Do Differently Next Time)", which I've copied and pasted the link here: http://onforb.es/w8Yovj. Even though this article speaks about New Year's resolutions, the given advice can be applied to goals made all year round.
My goal since I was a child has been to take my writing career to the next level. Since last year, my goal has been to take my skin care business, The Salt of Beauty, to the next level. Also, for quite a few months now, I've been aiming to exercise more and eat healthier. So as one can see, these goals were not made as resolutions within the last few days. Of course I've hit speedbumps and roadblocks along the way in pursuing all three goals, but I keep going. Life is about change, and just because I want to change my life, doesn't mean I need to wait until the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Day to get me up and running toward my goals.