The Top Ten 2010 New Year's Resolutions with Small Tips on How to Accomplish Them

People make many resolutions to do better at certain things when a new year begins. A new year brings excitement, fun, and the sensation of being able to star over. Some of the most common resolutions people make are to lose weight, stop smoking, reduce debt, help others more, spend more time with family, quit drinking, learn something new like a hobby or different language, do not procrastinate, get married, and recycle.

I have used several of these resolutions myself and usually failed. Losing weight is a new one for me, beginning this year. Losing weight can be particularly difficult if underlying problems such as heart conditions or thyroid issues exist. It can get very disheartening when the scale does not fall as much as the person thinks it should. Take heart and do not push yourself too hard initially. It is difficult to stick to changes that are abrupt.

Another common resolution is to discontinue smoking. In 2009, I am proud to say both my father and my father-in-law stopped smoking cigarettes after many, many years. There was an extreme tax raise on cigarettes in Arkansas during the middle of the year and this helped them both tremendously. Coming from someone who has underwent two different types of cancer, it is not fun and the cessation of smoking is one of the most impressive New Year's resolutions to make and keep.

A lot of families include debt reduction as a part of their New Year's resolutions. My family has attempted this resolution for each year and last year we did do better. One way to help keep this resolution is to take your income tax refund you receive at the beginning of the year and apply it to debt you have already incurred.

One admirable resolution for the new year is to help others. Volunteering helps not just the person doing it but the person receiving it. It can truly make a difference in the world.

A resolution I am making this year is to spend more time with my family. The family unit is the most important component in a person's life.

A New Year's Resolution that goes hand in hand with quitting smoking is quitting drinking. It is interesting that many people who make these resolutions spend New Year's Eve doing what they plan to discontinue the next day.

Living life requires learning so one good resolution is to learn something new. This year I intend to learn how to cook better. Learning a new language is a fun resolution as well. A lot of people return to school to complete this resolution. I wish I was able to do that this year. Oh well, maybe next.

My husband's New Year's resolution should be to no longer procrastinate. He tends to put things off to the very last minute and it often causes major problems. I resolve to make sure we are not late for church on Sunday every week.

This year I would like to add recycling to my list of resolutions as well. It is difficult to find places to recycle where I live but not impossible so I intend to make the effort.

One new year's resolution I had in the past was to get married. This resolution is more common than I thought it was with others as well. I am happy to say that I have not had this resolution since 2000.

Please remember that resolutions create change and that the behavior pattern you would like to keep or discontinue may not happen the first time you try. Do not give up hope. Stay strong and your wishes to improve yourself will occur.