2022 New Year’s Resolutions That Matter

If you’re on any social media platform, it’s that time of year that you’ll see posts about “New Year, New Me” type of stuff. Or you might see memes referencing how people are not going to change a thing despite the push for New Year’s resolutions. No matter which side of that fence you fall on, the reality is that each new year and with the coming of each spring, people perceive an opportunity to make some positive changes; to restart; to refresh; to improve. The biggest challenge often faced is making New Year’s resolutions that matter as opposed to the ones that are kicked to the curb by the first weekend in the new year. So let’s take a look at a few New Year’s resolutions we think you could make that might be beneficial long term both in your professional life and (perhaps) in your personal life as well.

With the whole world still facing challenges revolving around the coronavirus, there seems to be a growing rift between those who don’t see it as a major threat and those who still view and use it as a major threat to mankind. The reality for law enforcement is this: The virus is real. It’s been mutating rapidly. As you deal with the public, you will undoubtedly come in contact with people who have it or some variant of it. To protect yourself from getting it or, if you do get infected with it, to minimize your experienced symptoms, there are a few things you can do. Which options you choose to exercise we encourage you to embrace with commitment. A mitigation practice is only of value if it’s practiced consistently.

You don't have to eat clean 100% of the time. Aim for 80% and see how that little bit helps.

There are vaccine options available (in case you hadn’t seen that 50 times a day on the news and in social media). Weigh the value of getting vaccinated based on your own health, values, etc. and then act accordingly. While your agency may or may not ask for proof of vaccination if you do get one, it’s not a bad idea to provide a copy of your vax card to your agency provided it’s going into your confidential personnel file and not made available willy-nilly to anyone who asks. While some officers balk at providing any part of their medical records to the agency, reality is that every officer should already have an agency-paid-for physical in their file. There’s likely a psychological profile report in there as well. The agency already has medical records for you, at least part of them, and them having a copy of your vax card shouldn’t be a big deal if the information is protected like the rest of your records.

Strength, flexibility and endurance. The three things all fitness programs should involve.

Beyond vaccination, if you choose that, maintaining your health in a more general sense should be a goal that is consistent throughout your life. You never know when you might, without notice, be required to fight for your life and defend/rescue that of another. There is no excuse for not being in proper physical condition to do so. What’s that mean? Make a resolution to eat a bit cleaner. Don’t make yourself miserable avoiding the foods you love in favor of healthier foods you don’t like, but maybe cut back on the sugar-filled deserts or replace a soda with a bottle of water. Make a small change that can have a long-term impact on your health.

Make a resolution of self-improvement. Learn a new skill or master a new craft.

Examine your fitness regimen and make appropriate beneficial changes. If you don’t have one at all, get one started. If you already have one, give it a review and see if you can improve it somehow. It should include exercises for stamina/endurance, strength and flexibility. Where our health and fitness is concerned, “Use it or lose it” definitely applies. Recent studies show that older folks, in their 50s and 60s, who fall and injure themselves due to weakness or imbalance didn’t exercise much in their 30s and 40s. The same studies show that exercising three times per week for strength and flexibility, if done regularly through your 30s and 40s, reduces your chances of falls such as described and, if the fall does occur, doesn’t result in disabling injuries as often. Invest in your future quality of life by investing in your health and fitness now.

Make a resolution to invest in your mind; increase your knowledge. It doesn’t have to be in a law enforcement related topic, but resolve to learn a new skill or master a new topic. Multiple free language learning apps are available; pick a language and start learning it. You know your patrol area and overall jurisdiction. You know the interpreter you’re always looking for on traffic stops or subject interviews. Maybe learning that language would be beneficial. It certainly would look good on your resume if you can add another language, or some college classes, or even some non-credited online work (like our no-cost Officer Virtual Academy). Make the resolution to increase your knowledge base and commit to that goal with some measurable metrics.

Make a resolution to increase your skill sets in diplomacy and tact. Most law enforcement professionals, this author among them, are very straight forward and speak plainly without much consideration for how what’s said might be perceived. “I’m responsible for what I said; not what you understood,” is a common outlook and a true one. That said, how we say things can improve (or not) public relations and how our chain of command views us. If you consider those who have climbed the ranks ahead of you, you’ll usually find that they are the people who say the same things you do. They just word the same statements in a way that isn’t as confrontational or is open to conversation.

Health is holistic. You can't eat clean, drink heavy and never exercise and think you're doing okay.

Make a resolution to not argue but be willing to discuss. Now obviously this doesn’t apply to many situations on the street wherein we absolutely have to have 100% of control. What we mean is when you’re in those situations where you disagree with a co-worker (or spouse or relative, etc.) and an argument might ensue. Don’t argue. Arguments decide who is right—but often that just means who has the most rank or the loudest voice. Instead of arguing, resolve to discuss. Listen to what’s said. Voice your opinion, belief or outlook and be ready to support it with research or sources. Understand that no matter how right you think you are, that other person may never be convinced, and you’ll just have to agree to disagree.

Resolve to teach and mentor those you can. Too often in the law enforcement profession officers pursue becoming a Field Training Officer only for the added pay or because they’re given the assignment with no choice. Resolve to see the value in what other officers, more veteran than yourself, have taught you and understand the value you can provide to those less veteran than yourself. Share the knowledge where you can. Everyone learns lessons best when they make mistakes themselves, but life is far easier if we learn from the mistakes of others. Listen when they share those lessons. Pass the lessons along to those coming up.

Resolve to make an improvement within your agency. This is easier to do the higher the rank you are, but even the greenest boot rookie can have a positive impact within their agency. It’s usually not hard to find something that needs to be improved. What’s difficult is communicating that up the chain of command without being perceived as a “know it all” or “arrogant rookie.” No matter what your rank is or how long you’ve been working, you have observed something within your agency that rubbed you the wrong way and that you have a suggestion for a method of improvement. Consider that carefully. Create some documentation. Write up a recommendation. Pass it up your chain of command. Be prepared to accept tasks assigned to you in relation to the improvement and don’t only accept them but tackle them with aplomb. Make sure you carve out that niche for yourself and get noticed for how well you did the job. It’ll serve you well in your career growth future.

Now, go back and highlight the sentences starting with “Resolve to…” or “Make a resolution to…” and get started on them. Make this year one that you look back on with pride. Use that pride to develop growing resolutions of similar variety for 2023 when that time comes.