My Resolutions for 2025
To remark solely that I am buoyed for the new year would be an appalling understatement.
Novel therapies for some of the most common chronic diseases may soon be approved in the United States. More advanced models of artificial intelligence could make knowledge workers more efficient, reduce barriers to legal counsel, improve the safety of our roads, and drive innovation in personalized medicine.
Personally, this year will also mark my initial steps towards meeting my goals for my “rubber decade.”
My annual New Year’s resolutions for the coming decade will largely stem from those longer-term objectives.
My 2025 Resolutions
Physical
Meet specific weight-lifting benchmarks
Specific and Measurable:
Make progress towards the “Category IV” standards for a one-rep maximum (1RM) in Bench Press and Deadlift for my bodyweight, 181 pounds, as per Starting Strength:
Bench Press: 250 lbs. (eventual goal of 275 lbs.)
Deadlift: 375 lbs. (eventual goal of 438 lbs.)
Achievable and Realistic:
Moderately. I will again be using the StrongLifts iPhone app, which provides seamless tracking of my progress.
Timeframe:
Meet these benchmarks by 31 December 2025.
Maintain "elite" VO2 max
Specific and Measurable:
An elite VO2 max for my age group, 30-39, corresponds to ≥ 53 ml/kg/min.
My Apple Watch provides a rough estimate of my VO2 max based on an algorithm that incorporates a user’s age, weight, sex, medications that affect heart rate, and heart rate data from walking, running, and hiking workouts.
This value is likely within 3.5 to 4 ml/kg/min of my true VO2 max.
Achievable and Realistic:
Very. I have regularly incorporated Zone 2 and Zone 5 training into my weekly training regimen. Given that I am starting 2025 with an estimated VO2 max above 60 ml/kg/min, I should be able to preserve a sufficiently high level of fitness throughout the year, barring injury or illness, while training to run in two marathons.
Timeframe:
Meet this benchmark by 31 December 2025.
Complete two marathons and set a new personal record (PR)
Specific and Measurable:
Although I have failed to run several marathons for which I paid the entrance fee (Ann Arbor, 2013; New Jersey, 2016; Detroit, 2019), I have thus far avoided a dreaded DNF (did not finish) in any race I have started.
While I have a goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon at some point in the next decade with a finishing time of 2:55:00 (while I am 34 years old or younger) or 3:00:00 (after I turn 35), I will merely aim to finish faster than my current PR, 3:13:23 in the Cape Cod Marathon on 10/25/2015.
I plan to run one marathon in the spring and another in the fall or winter
Spring: Burlington, Vermont
Fall/winter possibilities: Portland, ME; Philadelphia, PA; Las Vegas, NV; CIM (among the fastest courses in the U.S.)
Achievable and Realistic:
Moderately. I have faced recurrent tendinopathies in both ankles, which has previously hobbled my training.
Setting a new PR will require dedicated training, likely over a period of at least twenty weeks, as well as considerable expense in the form of various shoes, running technology, and supplements. Given that running outside is likely more effective than training on a treadmill and warmer weather will make such training easier, my fall/winter marathon will almost certainly be faster than my spring marathon.
Timeframe:
Meet this benchmark by 31 December 2025.
Cognitive
Read 50 books
Read one novel by Stephen King in October
Likely Misery or The Green Mile
Read one pre-20th century “classic” piece of literature
Likely Jane Eyre or Pride and Prejudice
Read one play by Shakespeare
Likely Hamlet or King Lear
Read one collection of poetry
Read one biography ≥ 500 pages in length
The Power Broker, A Rather Haunted Life, Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Women, and Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom are all candidates
Specific and Measurable:
Indeed, there is a discrete amount of texts I aim to read as well as the availability of Goodreads seamlessly integrated into my Kindle to track my progress.
Achievable and Realistic:
Very. Reading is an activity for which I make time nearly every day. I absolutely love to read, and I will not lack for motivation.
Timeframe:
Meet this goal by 31 December 2025.
Publish six pieces on work//life
Specific and Measurable:
2024 was a banner year for this platform. This piece will be the thirteenth published in the last twelve months.
Publishing a piece once every two months should be reasonable to achieve in spite of my other resolutions and commitments for 2025.
Achievable and Realistic:
Very. I already have several ideas that would constitute at least six pieces.
Timeframe:
Meet this goal by 31 December 2025.
Practice Spanish on Duolingo every day
Specific and Measurable:
“Practice Spanish” will equate to completing at least one lesson on Duolingo. The application sends frequent, sometimes annoying reminders to complete lessons.
In my experience, Duolingo is optimized for mobile platforms, as opposed to their web-based application. With the introduction of iPhone mirroring in MacOS Sequoia, I will be able to utilize the mobile version of Duolingo on my computer, albeit without function of the microphone.
This feature might allow me to finish each lesson faster, enabling me to learn additional material.
Achievable and Realistic:
Very. Each lesson on Duolingo takes about two to five minutes to complete.
Using Duolingo alone is unlikely to allow me to advance considerably towards B2 fluency in Spanish, among my goals for the next decade. Nonetheless, while my time remains limited, this goal will enable me to at least maintain my current level of Spanish over the coming year.
Timeframe:
Meet this goal by 31 December 2025.
Learn one complex recipe
Specific and Measurable:
I aim to become facile with one recipe over the coming twelve months, albeit not to the extent that I have memorized each ingredient or the exact measurement thereof.
My success will be measured by how much my wife enjoys my cooking.
Achievable and Realistic:
Somewhat. I do not ordinarily devote much time to cooking, although I am far from clueless in a kitchen.
Given that I have set my sights on mastering just one recipe, I expect that I will be successful in this endeavor.
Timeframe:
Meet this goal by 31 December 2025.
These goals appear quite attainable. This opinion is based off your results from previous.
And if not said before, you have an enviable ambitions - and seem to achieve them