Dang! I just realized I didn't keep my New Year's resolution.

On the last day of 2011, I resolved to wake up an hour early for the next 365 days and go for a long jog. I'd feel better, look better, think more clearly, meet some new people in the neighborhood and maybe even live longer.

It was a no brainer.

Then came the last night of 2011, which, of course, calls for staying up really late and maybe drinking a fermented beverage or two.

Then came the first day of 2012, which, of course, calls for watching 27 football games and eating 11 different kinds of dip in which the main ingredient is either sour cream or cream cheese.

While sitting on the couch, I remembered my resolution and made a quick adjustment: I would start my new exercise program when my vacation ended and I returned to work.

When my vacation ended and my alarm sounded an hour early, I hit snooze and made a quick adjustment: I would start my new exercise program the following Monday.

On the following Monday, when my alarm sounded an hour early, I hit snooze and made a quick adjustment: I would start my new exercise program on the first Monday in February.

On the first Monday in February, I … well, you know the drill.

So here we are, 308 days later and on the eve of the end of daylight saving time, and I just realized that I didn't keep my New Year's resolution.

I'm not alone. I read somewhere that about 10 percent of Americans actually keep their resolutions.

Maybe we're choosing the wrong time to resolve to do new things. What about taking that extra hour we're getting early tomorrow morning and resolving to start a new good habit?

It kind of makes sense, especially when you consider that the guy who thought of daylight saving time was also the godfather of getting it done.

That would be Benjamin Franklin, the politician/printer/postmaster/scientist/satirist/statesman/founding father who invented bifocals, odometers, lightning rods and the flexible urinary catheter.

He figured it might be easier to go to bed early, rise early and become healthy, wealthy and wise if daylight was more evenly distributed.

Franklin also had another tip for keeping resolutions and getting things done: Instead of resolving to do one thing, resolve to do a bunch of things.

For example, Franklin resolved to improve in 13 areas -- among them temperance, chastity, cleanliness and frugality -- but he only focused on one a week, choosing to leave the other 12, as he wrote, "to their ordinary chance."

After all, he wanted to leave a bit of room for vice and error.

Sounds like a plan.

Dimon Kendrick-Holmes, executive editor, can be contacted at dkholmes@ledger-enquirer.com.