New Year, Same You? Rethinking Resolutions, Bucket Lists & Ageing with Optimism

Do New Year’s resolutions actually work, especially as we get older?
In this honest, funny and refreshingly unfiltered episode we challenge everything we’ve been told about January self-improvement.
From overcrowded gyms and guilt-driven goal setting to the pressure to “start fresh” on January 1st, we explore why traditional New Year’s resolutions often fail and why optimism, agency and having something to look forward to matter far more as we age.
Drawing on insights from geriatric psychiatry, lived experience and bucket-list thinking for over-50s, this episode reframes ageing as a time for renewal, curiosity and choosing goals that genuinely make life more vibrant, not just more “virtuous”.

Key Takeaways
• Why looking forward to the future is vital for mental health in later life
• New Year’s resolutions vs bucket lists and which actually works
• Motivation, fitness and goal-setting after 50
• Why “boring but sensible” goals don’t always inspire change
• How hobbies, travel, social connection and curiosity keep life meaningful
• Choosing one achievable goal that makes life richer
If you’re over 50, questioning ageing, fed up with guilt-based self-improvement or simply want to feel more excited about what’s ahead, this episode is for you.

Timestamps
00:48 - Do either of us actually do resolutions? Kev has traditionally had projects planned.
04:07 - Are any of Jo’s regimes cyclical/planned for January 1st?
04:38 - Why don’t we do New Year's Resolutions?
05:50 - What is a New Year’s resolution and why is it important to make them?
09:45 - Christmas is a natural pause, which allows us to reflect
10:27 - Optimism and agency give you the feeling of being in control
11:37 - The top 10 New Year’s resolutions for seniors, including exercise, mental health and diet
16:35 - Bucket lists vs resolutions: what’s the difference?
18:26 -Bucket list ideas for over-50s that actually excite us -Travel dreams, hobbies & new experiences
22:03 - Build something amazing
22:30 - Our joint bucket list wish list
25:40 - The benefits of goals that make a positive change for 2026
27:35 - Our goals for 2026

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