Top Three Most Popular New Years Resolutions and How to Keep Them

You've got out your little pen and paper. You're looking back on your life this year and wondering what resolutions you're going to make. Perhaps you really did overeat during the holidays, packing on several extra pounds. Maybe you spent too much, and have a pitiful looking bank account. Whatever the situation, whatever the need, the tradition that seems to hold true every year, is the development of New Years' Resolutions. {BIG SIGH} Yes, everyone makes them. And there is actually a comic relief to the fact that most people NEVER keep their New Years' Resolutions - -Never. So here are what I've found to be the most popular New Years' resolutions. But this time, I'll show you exactly how to keep them.

1- MAINTAIN HEALTHY WEIGHT

The best way to keep this resolution? Start NOW! If it's the middle of December, and you're thinking about weight loss-then more than likely you've been thinking about losing weight all year long. So why weight (pun intended) until January 1st to begin what should be considered a lifelong achievement anyway? It's really easy. Don't stand in front of the holiday trough (read: buffet table) and continue to graze. Chances are, if you put just a little of what you really like on your plate, you won't be tempted to go back for thirds and fourths.

Have you ever had a taste for chocolate, and realized that just one Hershey's kiss would satisfy your craving as opposed to that Super Snickers bar? Well, the same thing applies to food. Get a taste. Then go for a walk. Apply this behavior to your everyday eating habits, and you'll find that you need less food to satisfy your cravings. I'm not going to mention any fad diets, or exercise regimes here. Common sense will dictate that if you take in more calories than you burn, you're going to gain weight. So balance it out, and start NOW.

2- PAY OFF DEBT

Who wants to have a bucket-load of debt? I never understood why people made this particular item a "resolution." Why should New Year's Eve be the only time that people take a hard look at the debt they're accumulating? If this is one of the major things on your list of New Year's Resolutions, then read on. The first thing you'll want to do is sit down and make a list of all the debts you have. This means EVERYTHING, even your monthly bills. Write down everything you can think of that you spend money on every month. Then write down your monthly pay. It will only take a little bit of math to determine how much you can afford to pay to reduce bills like credit cards, etc.

The trick is to pay these things ON TIME so that late fees and interest do not accumulate. Furthermore, it's a good idea to pay a little more than what is owed. This goes for monthly expenses too. For example, if your monthly power bill is $75, then pay $80 for about 3 months straight if you can. It sounds crazy. But reducing the amount of monthly bills can help you in times when you have unexpected emergencies. Furthermore, if ever you need more time to pay a monthly bill; your pristine payment history will make it easier for the power company to work with you. Apply this logic to other bills, and you'll be surprised at how much LESS money you're kicking out. Plus, you'll see a reduction in your overall debt. It may sound easy. But we all know that major will power is a huge catalyst in debt reduction.

3- QUIT SMOKING

If you're still sucking down Marlboros, Kools, Newports, or Camels-and you don't know how sickening those little sticks are by now-then you must have been living in the dark ages. Quite frankly, there are still tons of smokers out there who are perfectly ok with stinking up their cars, clothes, hair and fingers with these nasty little things. Cigarettes are bad. We all know that. Is a New Year's Resolution to stop smoking going to really help? Probably not. You know why? Because on New Year's Eve, you're going to have a few glasses of bubbly, and goodness knows what else. Most drinkers love to cap off the buzz by lighting up.

So, with that in mind-you're going to have to do something about it right away. Do not wait until January 2nd to throw out your pack of cigarettes cold turkey. If you know you have the will power, then Godspeed. But most people, especially those who have been smoking for years, are going to need a little help. That means you'll have to actively seek out a plan for ditching the cancer sticks. Try the Nicotine patch. Get one NOW, so that you can become accustomed to not smoking as much...and then not smoking at all. Or seek out a hypnotherapist. By the time New Year's Eve rolls around, you may already be halfway through with your resolution. The point though, is to act soon.

There are many more New Years' Resolutions that people tend to "overlook" by Valentine's Day. I have found that the best way to keep the resolutions is to not make them in the first place. In other words, if you know that you need to stop smoking, lose weight, and save money. Then why should the urgency be placed at the beginning of the year as opposed to any other time? By the time you realize that you need to make a resolution, you should already be taking the steps to keep it. By the time New Year's rolls around, you'll be proud to tell people that you're in keeping with the promises that you've made to yourself. Good luck!