New Year's Resolutions You Can Keep!

Every year people promise that this is the year they will lose weight, stop smoking, exercise more, pay off their credit cards and the list goes one. While these are all great goals to have, make sure that this is the year you stop putting such big expectations on yourself and simplify your resolutions into something you can actually accomplish. Not only is accomplishing a goal a good feeling but it may lead you to accomplish another goal. So depending on which category you want to focus in this year, choose one to start with and come up with a resolution that you can complete! Here are a few ideas to get your started!

Family: Choose a resolution that will benefit your family! Put them first on your resolution list this year. Here are some ideas.

Remember Birthdays . If you have a large family and lots of friends it can seem overwhelming to remember everyone's birthday. Getting behind in sending cards and gifts can be quite easy. Purchase a card organizer. This is where you can write everyone's birthdays down and keep cards in slots for each month to be sent out. Purchase cards and stamps ahead of time. Make a point to mail cards on time! Choose one night a week when you look at your planner and see whose birthday is coming up and mail out your cards. You will make a lot of people happy and you'll start feeling better about not forgetting important dates!

Date Your Child every month . Parents can never spend too much time with their child. Especially when your child gets to be in school, it seems like the moments to get special time with your child diminishes even further. Make a point to schedule a monthly date for some one on one time with each of your children. It can even be just taking one of your kids grocery shopping and out of a coke afterwards. These simple moments can be turned into opportunities to get to know your child even more. Make sure at least one time a year you take them out for a special thing they want to do whether is be bowling in the middle of the afternoon or a special restaurant. Make your resolution to include bonding with your children more!

Turn the TV off one night . This is a tough one! Most Americans love their evening television shows. Choose one night a week, where after dinner, the TV is not allowed on. After homework and chores are completed, sit down as a family and play a game. You will be surprised at how this simple thing can change your family dynamic into something positive and you'll find your children loving this tradition and looking forward to game night for years to come!

Be Nicer to Your Spouse . Even happily married couples go through rough patches where we don't want to be kind to the "love of our lives"! In fact we forget why we married the person. Start showing affection to your spouse by simply being nice. Call your spouse "sweetie". Serve them their meal with a smile. Ask if you can do anything for them when they are sitting and watching TV. You may get a few strange looks at first, but make a point to be nice!

Money : In these continued tough economic times, making a resolution to make changes in your finances might be the right thing to do. Here are some simple steps to a happier financial year!

Make a Real Dinner at least 1 time a week . When considering how easy it is for parents to run to a fast food place to grab a value meal, it's easy to understand why families have stopped making meals at home. Make a pledge to make a meal one night a week (at the very least) and eat it as a family. Maybe start to get your family involved with the cooking portion too. Cooking together can be very fun and a great bonding time.

Make your Own Coffee at Home . Going out for coffee every morning or even once a week will cost you and average of $400 or more a year! Buy a reusable travel mug and you can at least make carrying your coffee around fun.

Keep A Grocery List on your Fridge . Sound a little weird? Well by doing this you will not only save yourself time but you can save a lot of money by preparing your meals and needs ahead of time. Going into a grocery store blindly can lad to excess spending.

Save your Change. Keep a large change container. Try not to use your change and every week throw it into your container. You will be amazed how much and how quickly this money adds up. You can use this money for emergencies or for something fun.

Personal: It's always a good thing to have a resolution that includes a personal goal. Here are some doable goals to try and reach!

Wake up one morning before your kids and be ready to greet them! As a parent especially if your children are younger and have sleep issues, it's very tempting to let them wake you up and get as much sleep as possible. Once a week make it a goal to wake up early, get your self ready and be prepared for them! It's a beautiful thing to be awake and ready to greet you kids in the morning!

Read one new book a Month. Whether you love to read and don't have the time, or never have really taken up reading, make this year the time to start. Reading is relaxing; it stretches your mind and imagination and engages you in something intellectually stimulating. Whether you get recommendations from friends or join a book club, find something you enjoy and read a new book every month!

Give up one bad food every month. If losing weight is a goal but seems a bit overwhelming try giving up a problem food every month. For example, if you love sweets, try going a month without any desserts. Or if chocolate is the culprit give that up for a month, if it's soda pop give up that! You can give one thing up a month to make small changes.

Make this the year that you stick to a realistic resolution!