New Years...

New Years. A time to reflect the past & look towards the future. Many people participate in making New Year’s resolutions. A New Year’s resolution is a commitment to a personal goal that a 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.


The most popular resolutions are:

• Improve health: lose weight, exercise more, eat better, drink less alcohol, quit smoking
• Improve finances: get out of debt, save money
• Improve career: get a better job
• Improve education: improve grades, get a better education, learn something new (such as a foreign language or music)
• Improve self: become more organized, reduce stress, be less grumpy, manage time, be more independent
• Take a trip
• Volunteer to help others

Top Ten Resolutions:

• 10. Get organized
• 9. Help others
• 8. Learn something new
• 7. Get out of debt
• 6. Quit drinking
• 5. Enjoy life more
• 4. Quit smoking
• 3. Tame the bulge
• 2. Fit in fitness
• 1. Spend more time with family and friends.

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 being set, such as, 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.

Have you ever made New Year’s resolutions? Were any of these on your list? Have you ever accomplished any of your goals?