GRAND PLANS IN 2019

JANUARY 1 is the perfect day to do away with old habits and usher in a new way of doing things, and celebrities are no different to us in their enthusiasm to start as they mean to go on. But are resolutions things to stick to religiously or are they old hat in today’s modern age? We asked a handful of well-known names about the things they’d like to change in 2019 and the goals they are setting for the next 365 days.

ALISON CURTIS TODAY FM PRESENTER

I DON’T normally make resolutions but this year is an exception. I have resolved to become much better in the kitchen with help from Neven Maguire’s new book. I enjoy cooking and I like cooking from scratch, but I want to be more adventurous and skilled. My aim is to try two new dishes a week in January. As a vegetarian, I want to come up with more variety that my husband, Tony, and daughter, Joan, will like too.

JOHN CREEDON RTÉ BROADCASTER AND RADIO HOST

EVERY year I remind myself to encourage people the best I can, whether it’s thanking a taxi man for getting me somewhere on time, leaving a nice note and a tip for housekeeping staff in hotels, telling my bosses and colleagues I really appreciate it when some tricky show goes off well or telling smallies their painting or dancing is the best I have ever seen — that kind of thing. Also I’m going to take a few more Twitter breaks. Wish me luck!

DARREN KENNEDY PRESENTER AND MENSWEAR DESIGNER

I GENERALLY don’t make resolutions as I think New Year’s resolutions by themselves have a negative connotation. Most people adopt a kind of negative outlook — ‘I’m going to stop doing this; I’m not going to eat this’ — and I don’t agree with that.

I think it’s more about setting positive goals for yourself for the year ahead. What I generally do is just take stock of the previous year. You should give yourself a pat on the back, regardless of what it is you have achieved, and just say, ‘Well, that worked, but maybe this didn’t work quite as well as I thought, but that’s okay and I have learned from it and I am moving on.’ Then set new goals for the year ahead, new targets you want to hit, whatever that might be.

It’s about not being too hard on yourself and remembering that a goal is only a goal, but you have to stay flexible and fluid because if you are too focused on the goal you may miss other opportunities.

JOE LINSDAY PRESENTER OF RTÉ TRAVEL SHOW GETAWAYS

I HAVE some really interesting projects coming up in 2019 so I’m prepping myself for them and getting myself physically ready. I’m getting back onto my kickboxing, for a start. I was addicted to it for quite a while, then I had a shoulder injury from stupidly slipping on decking. It’s all fixed up now and I’m swimming a lot but I really miss punching stuff!

I train with the legendary champion and teacher Billy Murray at Prokick gym in Belfast. Over the years I’ve sparred so many rounds with him and I’ve barely landed a punch.

I’m also painting more. I have a collaboration with Rory Jeffers that we’re finally knuckling down to. It’s incredibly therapeutic and an honour to work with an artist like Rory.

There are exciting things happening with Snow Water (a production company for live arts events), for which I’m Artistic Advisor, so I’ve got to be more focused and sharper.

Resolutions are great and probably meaningless at the same time. Just

HOLLY CARPENTER

MODEL AND BROADCASTER I THINK making resolutions is a good way to start the year — if you declare something out loud, you might make more of an effort to stick to it.

I have a lot of small improvements in mind. Everyone is on a health buzz for January but I really want to readjust my attitude to the gym. Usually, I feel I have to go, so I think about it in a really negative way. I’d like to enjoy it a bit more and make it more sociable, like going to a yoga class with friends and make it a more positive experience.

Another small change I want to make is to get a Leap card and stop driving everywhere. I definitely waste too much money on parking in Dublin. get the work done. My two best bits of advice are ‘Stay on target, blinker out the noise and trust your gut’ and ‘One day you’re going to die, get it all done before that.’

LUCY KENNEDY TV AND RADIO PRESENTER

RESOLUTION wise, like every year, I plan to lose weight and get fit. To walk more. To stay off the carbs. To drink apple cider vinegar every morning. To go to bed before 10pm Monday to Thursday and generally to try and be a better person!

ERIC LALOR

COMEDIAN AND FAIR CITY ACTOR MY RESOLUTION is to spend less time on my phone and get fitter. I know that’s boring, but it’s what I plan on doing.