It doesn't really work to make a new year's resolution when you're already working on all the things you want to improve in your life.

In my mind, if i have to make a resolution to do something on new years, I've failed at accomplishing those things in the previous year. "start out on a fresh slate" implies that your last slate you screwed up somehow and now you have to fix the problem.

I use the new years to reflect on my accomplishments of the previous year and to look forward to the next year so i can continue to improve myself.