WHAT ARE YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS?
What are your resolutions this year?
Every year the annual page turns, and millions of people make New Year’s resolutions to start fresh and improve themselves and their situation over the previous year. The pandemic has made life hard for many, so the idea of starting the year with a clean slate is particularly appealing right now.
In a podcast from the American Psychological Association (www.apa.org), psychologist Pauline Wallin, Ph.D., talks about making New Year’s resolutions.
“The best time to start is when you’re ready. For some people that will be January 1st, but there’s nothing magical about that day. The important thing isn’t the day on which you start, but that your goal is internally motivated,” said Wallin.
“There’s an old saying that a goal without a plan is just a wish and wishes don’t get the job done,” said Wallin. “Your plan needs to include not only what you want to accomplish, but how you will accomplish it, and how you will deal with the predictable temptations, discomfort, and setbacks.” Wallin advises people to start small.
The No. 1 resolution for millions is to lose weight. If you’ve tried to lose weight in the past but failed, try something different. Map out a strategy to lose your extra pounds. Be realistic in the weight loss goal you set. At the same time, increase activity. Some people might find joining a weight-loss group to be helpful. Use a Fitbit or other wearable tech to help you in your quest.
The No. 2 resolution is to eat healthier. More than two-thirds of American adults are considered to be overweight or obese. Eating healthier takes some planning. Throw out or give away/ donate any “bad” food you currently have. If you have it on hand, you have more of a chance of eating it. Stock up on healthier food. Avoid fast food.
The third most popular resolution revolves around finances. Millions of people want to get out of debt. A place to start today is by stop charging and spending more than you should. Motivator Dave Ramsey has some advice on the subject at www.daveramsey.com.
“This year has been one of the worst financially for so many Americans. Thirty years ago, my wife, Sharon, and I were on the heels of a financial catastrophe ourselves. But we said never again to living with debt. We worked our way out of bankruptcy and turned our finances around,” said Ramsey.
Ramsey said the quickest way to get out of debt is to use the debt snowball method. He advises making minimum payments on all debts except the smallest. Pay as much as you can on that one. When the smallest one is paid off, use the same technique on the next smallest debt. Paying off a debt will keep you motivated to continue to get out of debt.
When making a New Year’s resolution, make each resolution specific. For example, instead of saying you want to lose weight, say you want to lose 10 pounds.
Write your resolution down. This makes it more real. Put this written resolution in a place where you can see it every day.
Making any change can be hard. That’s why it’s important to make promises to yourself that you can actually keep.