New Year's Resolutions: A Goal Without A Plan Is Just A Wish
BOSTON (CBS) - We are several weeks into the New Year and I'm not sure which is worse, the political ads or the diet and gym ads. I just know they both send me to the cookie jar!
According to the Farmer's Almanac, 88% of adults make resolutions but only 20% keep them. We set unrealistic goals for ourselves and we don't put together a plan to help us accomplish those goals.
I Googled " New Year's Resolutions" and oh so much information became mine for the reading. But as I sifted through it much was the same from last year and the year before and the year before.
I have compiled a list of the most popular resolutions.
- Get Fit
- Lose Weight
- Manage Debt
- Save Money
- Get a Better Education
- Get a Better Job
- Manage Stress
- Quit Smoking
- Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
- Take a Trip
- Volunteer to Help Others
- Drink Less Alcohol
- Learn to Whistle
If any of these resolutions are on your list check out the resources I found. If you take a close look at the list the reality of it is; we all want to be Healthy, Wealthy and Wise. So we are going to work on those things this week.
To achieve your goals you need to prioritize. What is important? Write it down. Then take your list and put together a plan and a time line. When do you want to accomplish those resolutions? In addition, you will need to find resources to help. Think about using shorter goals to achieve bigger goals. You want to lose 25 pounds. Start with a goal of five pounds. Then another five and so on.
Think about enlisting the help of a friend, your family, or an organization like Weight Watchers or AA. You need someone to be accountable to, and someone who will share in your small victories. You will do better if you tell people your resolutions and why they are important to you. You want to lose weight to lower your blood pressure; you want to stop drinking to keep your job; you want to save money to take a vacation.
The key to success with a resolution is to be realistic. You will not be able to lose 25 pounds by Valentine's Day. You are not a contestant on the TV show the Biggest Loser. But 3 to 5 pounds is realistic. Nor can you be out of debt in a month. But in a year or 18 months it is achievable.
One more thing: Wanting to quit smoking is made easier because the government is making it harder and harder to light up. There is no smoking in public buildings. Many buildings also now have a 50 foot no smoking restriction from the entrance and in the winter when it is cold that is far away. In California, if you have a minor in the car you are not supposed to light up.
