Smart And Spicy

Two Secrets to News Year's Resolutions

By Carole Bell

Observer Columnist

My friend Ben Abramovice, a beloved California character, knew how to keep New Year's Resolutions. He always made them and always kept them. His secret?

It's below...don't peek!

40% of Americans make New Year's Resolutions, according to Forbes.

Top resolutions?

The number one New Year's resolution? Losing weight. (not a surprise).

Number 2: Getting organized. Number 3: Spending less and saving more.

A surprise was that falling in love was number 9 (according to the Statistics Brain Research Institute).

Is it a sign of our times, with war and terrorism on people's minds, that falling in love is so low? Judging from old movies, love happens more when we're scared or at war.

Other popular resolutions: Stress out less. Volunteer more. There's new research showing that happiness increases when we help people; our bodies actually get healthier when we're kind. Getting more sleep is another biggie.

37% of us resolve to stay fit and healthy, with 32% wanting to lose weight. What does it say about Americans that only 12% resolve to read more? (Nielsen).

Everyone's too busy, a sign of right now.

Maybe you'll choose to save money by exercising at home or using a video fitness program rather than paying for a gym. Or making a grocery list so you won't buy extras on impulse. Or stopping screen time an hour before you'd like to be sleeping._________________________

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it

right.

Oprah Winfrey

_________________________

A little help:

Don't go to extremes. Little steps work. Don't make your resolutions too giant, or too many. It's easier to keep 3 than 33.

Tell people. Studies show it helps to commit and keep on track. Plus it helps to get support.

Make your resolutions clear. People who make specific resolutions are 10 times more likely to keep them.

Remember your resolution! Don't forget. (23% of people who didn't keep resolutions forgot about them!) If you want it to happen, you have to do something to make it happen.

Believe in yourself. You can do this!

Use tech. Apps can help. Keeping your goals? Try coach.me or habitlist.com

Fitness/Diet goals? Click myfitnesspal.com Getting organized? Check evernote.com

Saving money? Go to mint.com Want to read more? Use getpocket.com

To do lists? Find wunderlist.com

So what's my friend Ben's secret? He told me he's always successful with New Year's resolutions. How? He said he only makes resolutions he knows he can keep.

You can use this: Set yourself reasonable goals, not grand-scheme goals.

The number two secret? Break it down into baby steps. Each little part you do will be fuel for the next parts. Start small.

You can do this. Don't give up!

So what's my resolution?

To be brave. To write about what I feel. To take chances and not worry about what you think.

So, what do you think?

_________________________

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.

Oprah Winfrey

Carole Bell is a writer interested in everything.

You can write to her at: smartspicy1@gmail.com

 

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