After a tumultuous 2023 for many, Ciara Kelly said she’s going to focus more on personal improvement in 2024 and a bit less on political turmoil. 

The new year brings with it new goals for the future – but it also brings some fear for what lies ahead. 

Ciara said every day, people are seeing "what's happening in Gaza, what's happening in Ukraine, the potential for a Trump presidency" and much more. 

“I think some of the reasons my hopes this year are mainly personal are because the geopolitical sort of picture is so grim,” she said on Newstalk Breakfast. 

“All of those things are happening and when you can't control the world of any of that stuff, you have to look to the more micro and the more personal. 

“Seeds of divisiveness and division seem to be rampant around the world... I really want this year to get back to a sense of health, activity and normality.” 

Health, activity and normality in 2024

Ciara noted today was her first time back on air since December 8th after spending several spells in hospital across 2023. 

She said this sense of feeling her life had “turned upside down” has prompted her to focus on controlling the controllables. 

“I was in and out of hospital a lot of times, I had several surgeries,” she said. “I really want this year to get back to a sense of health, activity and normality. 

“Focus on just feeling normal, healthy and on the things in my life that I can control, which aren't broad sweeping political movements. 

“I’m turning a little bit – maybe we all are, maybe that’s right, maybe that’s wrong – a bit insular.” 

Dry January

Newstalk Breakfast co-host Shane Coleman agreed with Ciara’s vision for 2024, and admitted he is doing something he’s never done before – setting a New Year’s resolution. 

“I don’t do New Year’s resolutions generally, but I am doing one this year,” he said. 

“My body is screaming at me to stop, lose a bit of weight, get a bit healthier. 

“I’m going off to go off the gargle for January – I've never done Dry January. 

“With a couple of exceptions, I did have a glass of wine with dinner last night and my birthday's in a couple of weeks.

"I'm going to give myself a 'St Patrick's Day during Lent' kind of break."

'Wear and tear is showing'

He also the “wear and tear is showing” after not making the best health decisions. 

“I got lazier of the last few months, getting the Luas home rather than walking,” he said. 

“I’m going to bring my runners in to work to walk home after.” 

Both Ciara and Shane agreed New Year’s should be about focusing on what you can do, rather than worrying about what you can’t.