Resolving New Year's Resolution

New Year, for most people is a good time to start, a door to a new beginning, a better time to make changes and commitments.

A New Year's Resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until fulfilled or abandoned. (wiki)

Many of us have had our share of New Year’s resolutions. I had mine when I was younger and I can’t remember at what age did I let go of it. Many people have tried but very few succeeded:

Recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a Resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, a system where small measurable goals are used (lose a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends. (wiki)

Success rate maybe has a correlation with the kind of commitments we make. Here is a list of popular New Year’s resolutions:

1. Lose Weight
2. Manage Debt
3. Save Money
4. Get a Better Job
5. Get Fit
6. Eat Right
7. Get a Better Education
8. Drink Less Alcohol
9. Quit Smoking Now
10. Reduce Stress
    
11. Take a Trip
12. Volunteer to Help Others

Scan the list and you’ll find out that most were about health and wealth, except the last one. There are only two from the list which I consider easy. Easy because I don’t smoke and I don’t drink alcohol. The rest are relatively difficult. What made them more difficult is we don’t make measurable and attainable goals.

• Lose Weight – How much weight do you need to lose to get your desired weight? How much weight is attainable for you to lose this year? Divide it by 12 months to know how much weight you are going to lose monthly and make plans on how you are going to lose it.
  

• Manage Debt – How much debt do you have? Is it possible to repay all your debt this year? If not, how much can you afford to pay? After identifying the amount, make a payment plan.
  

• Save Money – For a beginner, do not think of how much you are going to save. Instead, make it a habit by setting aside an insignificant portion of your salary/income monthly, weekly or depending on how often you receive your salary/income. Saving insignificant amount won’t hurt and affect significantly your spending habit. When it becomes a habit, it will be difficult to break.
  

• Get a Better Job – What is a better job? Is it defined by you or by the people around you? He Does “better job” means more income, inner fulfillment or both?
  

• Get Fit – Exercise! Same with saving money, make it a habit. The best way to make it a habit is to start with the easiest as if you’re doing nothing.
  

• Eat Right – Have a list of what is right and remove from the list those which are not available in your area. Find recipes that have the ingredients found on your list. The challenge: Learn how to cook.
  

• Get a Better Education – The same with better job, what is better education for you? If it means advancement of the degree you already have, then find study options. It will help much if you find and be with people of the same interest.
  

• Drink Less Alcohol – I have to admit, I don’t know personally how to deal with this because I don’t drink. I don’t know how it feels to be a drinker.
  

• Quit Smoking Now – I don’t smoke, so I don’t know how to quit. I know few people who overcame smoking. They have different strategies but they share one common thing – motivation. Their motivations may differ, but worth more than smoking.
  

• Reduce Stress – Psalms 23, Psalm 46:10.
  

• Take a Trip – Start locally. You’ll be surprised!
  

• Volunteer to Help Others – They are all around you. The help that you can do may not create an impact to your community, but surely will change your life and the people you are helping.