NOT FOUND: resolving the unresolved.jpg“I resolve …” We’ve all said these or similar words at least once in our lives; most of us, yearly for any number of years. But how many of us have actually accomplished those New Year’s Resolutions we’ve made? A recent “resolution research study” showed that 52% of the participants felt confident of reaching the goals they had set for themselves, while only 12% actually accomplished them. That’s pretty much par for the course in most of our lives.

Doesn’t it seem that we continue to make the same resolutions each year? We’re going to lose weight this year! We’re going to get out of debt! These very noble goals are among the most popular New Year’s Resolutions made in the USA. Others include:

  • Get organized
  • Save money
  • Improve grades
  • Get fit/Eat right
  • Get a better job/Get a better education
  • Drink less alcohol
  • Quit Smoking
  • Reduce stress
  • Take a trip
  • Volunteer to help others
  • Be less grumpy
  • Be more independent
  • Learn something new

2010 can be very different for us. This year, rather than a long list of things we need to change, we should take a moment to look at our lives and see where we would like to be at this time next year. Then, set some small, measurable goals for ourselves. Perhaps our list should look something more like this:

  • Lose a certain amount of weight per week/month
  • Pay off a certain amount of debt each month
  • Organize one room/area a month
  • Save a certain amount of money per month
  • Join a gym and go at least three times per week – find a friend to go with to keep us accountable and make it more fun
  • Eat smaller portions/cut out dessert
  • Go back to school
  • Quit smoking
  • Take one day a week to relax, read a book, spend some quiet time (a little each day, if you can)
  • Find a goal you have in life and do something toward that goal each month

Maybe pick three things to start to make your list more manageable. You can always add more later. If we set ourselves up for success from the beginning, we just may be able to get everything in. Trying to change too much at once is overwhelming and can set us up to fail from the start. The study mentioned above proves this point: only a little more than half of the people who had just made resolutions thought they could accomplish them.

Or choose one thing to work on at a time. For example, if you choose a healthier lifestyle as your first goal, join a gym or find someone to start walking with. Make exercising a routine part of your life. They say it takes 21 days to make something a habit. Spend three weeks making exercise just “something you do”. By the end of the 21 days you will be feeling much better and quite possibly have made some changes to your diet in the process. If not, make that the next project. Just start by cutting back. Leave a little bit on your plate at every meal, or perhaps pass on the dessert occasionally. Small changes make a big difference. Some very good advice: JUST GET STARTED.

If getting out of debt is a goal, start by getting on a budget. You can seek the help of a professional, or just do it yourself. Sit down and write out all of the fixed payables you have like mortgage/rent, utilities (average it out), car payment, insurance, gas, food, medical expenses, etc. You set the amounts, and then stick to them. Keep all of your receipts, and write down what you spend. Be accountable to yourself. Then whatever is left after your basic monthly expenses, apply it to old debt. If you get a bonus or extra money, apply all or most of it toward debt, as well. Budget everything in. If you would like to take a vacation, put that into your budget and plan ahead so that when the time comes, you will already have the money set aside and not have to go deeper into debt.

When you’ve reached a goal, reward yourself! (Make sure you budget that reward in.) If losing weight, set aside a little money each month to reward yourself with a new dress or pair of pants when you’ve gone down to a new size. The reward shouldn’t cause you to work against any efforts toward change. When making choices in any area of your life, ask yourself if what you’re considering will take you forward or set you back. Continued forward motion is what will bring the results you desire in all areas of your life.

All of life is about choices. We make them every day. Choose today to make positive changes in your lifestyle. Lifestyle changes will bring lasting results. To be debt-free, change the way you handle your finances/spending habits. To maintain weight loss, don’t diet. Make permanent changes for the better. If you’ve been doing the same things for years, and aren’t getting where you’d like to be in life; change the things you are doing!

Happy New YOU!