A popular New Year’s joke has been printed on many images:
 
Q: What exactly is a New Year’s resolution?
A: It’s a “to do” list for the first week of January.
   
The joke has been cited in print since at least January 4, 2009, when it was printed in an “Angus & Phil” comic strip by Annie Taylor Lebel.
 
 
Mike’s Mixed Memories
SUNDAY, JANUARY 04, 2009
But it’s SO HARD to do….....
(...)
Angus & Phil BY ANNIE TAYLOR LEBEL (Comic strip.—ed.)
WHAT EXCATLY IS “A NEW YEARS RESOLUTION”?
IT’S A “TO DO” LIST FOR THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY
 
Twitter
Just-Recycling
‏@JustRecycling
What exactly is a New Year’s resolution?  It’s a “to do” list for the first week of January: http://wp.me/pF9Cb-86
6:15 AM - 29 Dec 2009
 
Twitter
Keith G. Smith
‏@Keith_KaGee
New Year’s Resolutions… The “to-do” list for the first week on January. 😛
8:56 PM - 29 Dec 2009
 
Google Groups: punegolfers
New Years Resolution
Jayesh Gadekar
1/31/11
January is already nearing its end… Have you made any progress toward your New Year’s resolutions yet or were they just a To-do List for the first week of January? If you are like the majority of people, the answer is, probably not.
 
BObbi’s Blog
What exactly is a “New Year’s resolution”? It’s a “to do” list for the first week of January.
Posted on December 31, 2011
 
Google Groups: Angelique’sSmorgaabord
Evolution of a Resolution 2006: I will read at least 20 good books a year. 2007: I will read at least 10 books a year. 2008: I will read 5 books a year. 2009: I will finish Dan Brown’s ‘The Lost Synbol’ 2010: I will read some articles in the newspape
andrea
1/2/12
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A New Year’s Resolution is a ‘To Do” List for the first week of January.
 
5 January 2013, Advocate (Burnie, Tasmania), “Time to hook up with old love” by Julian O’Brien, pg. 11:
THERE was something posted somewhere in the lead-up to New Year’s Eve that was spot on.
 
It read: “New Year’s resolutions ... also known as a to-do list for the first week of January.”
 
17 January 2014, The Tribune (Williams Lake, BC), “New Year’s resolutions may be something of the past” by Monica Lamb-Yorksi, pg. 7:
One dog asked the other what a New Year’s resolution was.
 
“It’s a to-do list for the first week of January,” was the reply.
   
8 January 2015, Savannah (GA) Morning News, “In case you weren’t paying attention, it’s 2015,” pg. A4:
Question: What exactly is a New Year’s resolution?
Answer: A to-do list for the first week of January.
   
The Huffington Post
32 Happy New Year Wishes and Images
12/29/2016 09:38 am ET
Richard Kronick
Author, teacher, speaker, coach. Self-proclaimed luckiest man alive.
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New Year’s resolutions are a to-do list for the first week of January.