Great observations. I try and give up something that I feel is damaging my soul (I gave up internet celebrity gossip sites one year). This year I am putting my Ipad in a drawer for the duration. I have a regular TV and a computer that can manage any function I truly need. I will also stop eating at restaurants and eating sweets.
I know I picked correctly when there is a known challenge (Anna Nicole Smith died on Shrove Tuesday) or some positive physical/material change at Easter or soon after. I look at the lost five pounds as a by-product, not the goal.
I think I did the same thing one year, before Trump. I didn’t watch Fox...nothing. Just TCM. It was great. Didn’t miss a thing.