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Top 10 Most Common New Year Resolutions

At this time of the year many of us resolve to make a fresh start and improve our lives.  We vow that this will be the year it all happens. This year we’ll stick to our diets, our budgets, or our exercise plan. And by the time Easter rolls around, we feel so guilty about not meeting our goals, that many of us have simply given up – until next year.  

The main reason so many of us fail to keep our New Year’s Resolutions is because we actually set ourselves up for failure. This year try these four tips for maintaining your focus and motivation:

1. Pick only one resolution and work on that one first

2. Write down your resolution and review it once a day

3. Keep focusing on the positive results of your success

4. Make small, gradual changes; and only one a week

Here are some more tips to help you succeed with the most common New Year’s Resolutions:

Lose Weight -
Fifty-five percent of adults in America are overweight, so it is not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions. Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most important factors in sticking with a weight loss program, and the key to success for those millions of Americans who made a New Year's commitment to shed extra pounds.

Get Fit –
The evidence is in for fitness. Regular exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. Studies show that it reduces the risk of some cancers, increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss, enhances mood, lowers blood pressure, and even improves arthritis. In short, exercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better.

Spend More Time with Family –
We lead such busy lives, many of us find that we’re spending more and more time rushing around and less time with the people who are important to us. Studies have shown that people who spend positive time with family and friends are healthier and less stressed.
Finding time takes commitment. Learn to say “no” to unimportant things. If you’ve been working really hard, and you’ve barely seen your kids in two weeks, do you really have to go to that shower for the co-worker you barely know? Or could you spend that time relaxing and talking with your family? Try creating just an hour a day of “family” time, and turn off the TV, put the phone on voicemail, and just have fun with the people you love.

Stop Smoking –
If you have tried to quit before and failed, don’t let that stop you from trying again. On the average, smokers try four times to quit, before they successfully quit for good. Take advantage of the over-the-counter-aids available to you, like nicotine-replacement patches or gum. And start enjoying your smoke-free life.
Whatever you do, don’t give up! Your life may depend on it.

Stick to a Budget –
Take a deep breath and look long and hard at your finances. Add up every single one of your regular expenses. Now re-build your budget. Look carefully at areas you can cut back on. For example, if you go to the movies even once a month, try renting a video instead, for a fraction of the cost. Or when you reach for the potato chips or a candy bar at the grocery store – don’t! Your waistline and your wallet will thank you for it.

Find a Better Job –
The secret here is to take action and persist. Do something more than just look at the want ads. Polish up your resume and start sending it out. Stay positive. View every rejection as getting you one step closer to “Yes.” And be realistic. If you need to take a course or get a degree to make yourself truly competitive, begin today, by calling schools and inquiring about financial aid.

Become More Organized –
For many people who feel pressured for time, the answer is not more time; it’s better organization! The average person spends an hour and a half each day looking for lost items. And the biggest problem for most people is paper – unwanted mail, flyers, old bills, and the like. Invest in a basic shredder and keep it right by the front door. Then as you walk in with the mail, stop and immediately shred anything that doesn’t demand immediate action.

Eat Better –
Start in small increments. For example, add one piece of fresh fruit or an extra vegetable to your diet per week until you get up to the suggested five servings a day. Substitute sweetener for sugar. Or cut that doughnut or piece of cake into four pieces and throw or give away three pieces. Above all, immediately remove all the “guilt food” from your refrigerator and your house!  

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