Every year, we like to make New Year’s resolutions. A new year is a chance to wipe the slate clean and start over with fresh resolve. The downside is that by the end of the month, most of us tend to slide back into old habits and undermine the good intentions we started with. Don’t give up so easily! Today, we take a look at five of the most common New Year’s resolutions and give you great tips to maintain your commitment and reach your goals.
Photo of Fitbit, by Robert Scoble - http://flic.kr/p/bWhaWA
Stay On Your Diet And Reach Your Ideal Weight
Losing weight is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions, according to the US government. It’s also one of the hardest resolutions to make stick, especially when you consider that we are surrounded by temptations everywhere - snacks at the office, fast food restaurants everywhere, and junk food at rock-bottom prices in the grocery stores. So how do you make yourself stay on your diet?
According to WebMD, experts advise that you shouldn’t think of it as a “diet”. You should instead choose a health plan that’s right for you and your lifestyle, whether it’s adding more fruits and vegetables to your repertoire, going vegan, or paleo. Limiting yourself to a strict diet is a recipe for disaster.
Exercise More & Get Fit
This resolution is complementary to the dieting resolution - the best way to lose weight healthily is to consume a better diet and combine it with regular exercise. If you are not a regular exerciser, it can be difficult to get started. According to Gizmodo, one way to motivate yourself is to get an activity tracker like Fitbit, which is available from stores like Target. Use Target coupons, and you’ll take care of the next resolution.
Save More Money & Have More Cash In Hand
If you're a BluePromoCode fan, you're already great at saving money with coupons and promo codes. If you want to save even more money, take a good look at your finances and figure out where you can save even more. Cut unnecessary expenses - don’t keep paying the membership fee if you aren’t actually going to the gym and figure out if there are hidden benefits your workplace offers that you aren’t taking advantage of, such as financial investment classes. The Simple Dollar has a list of 100 suggestions to help get you started and make the task a little less overwhelming.
Get A Better, Higher-Paying Job
If you hate your current job, there’s no reason you should stay there. Freshen and update your resume, and network, network, network. Ask your friends and associates for any leads or tips and contact people you know and trust to be your references. Lifehacker has 10 suggestions for improving your odds of getting a better job, which includes advice on making a resume stand out, acing the interview, and asking for a sign-in bonus (extra money is always a good thing).
Manage Your Stress & Relax
Are you feeling overburdened and burned out? It’s time to carve out a little space for yourself to breathe and relax. According to WebMD, chronic stress can have ill effects on your health. So take a break, and practice relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, or tai-chi. The beauty of these techniques is that they don’t have to take up a lot of time - you would be surprised how much better you’ll feel if you take five minutes every day to clear your mind.
What's YOUR New Year's Resolution 2014? Tell us about it and how you plan to keep it in the comments below!
