The festive season is officially over. The only chocolates left in your home are the ones that nobody wants to eat, and you finished making sandwiches with your turkey weeks ago. Now’s the time to look forward to the future, and start thinking about how you can set yourself up for success in the year ahead.
While plenty of people set New Year’s Resolutions to give them guidance and focus when achieving their goals, few accomplish the things they set out to achieve. After all, while it’s tempting to be overly ambitious in your view of the future, the more complicated your resolution is, the more work you’ll need to put in to make your dreams a reality.
Here, we’ll look at just some of the most popular resolutions people make at the beginning of a new year, and what you can do to improve your chances of making these months count!
“I Want to Lose Weight”
There are plenty of schemes and fad diets out there that promise to give you everything you need to banish the extra inches around your weight in a matter of minutes. However, as anyone who has actually tried to drop a dress size will already know, losing weight is much harder than it seems.
While there aren’t any shortcuts to getting the body of your dreams, making sure that you have a solid strategy in place when January begins can make it easier to cut out the calories in time for bikini season. Research suggests that while exercise and fitness are important for toning your body, the main aim of your weight loss plan should be consuming fewer calories than you use. Look for fresh, fun ways to transform your diet by eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
“I Want a Better Work/Life Balance”
In today’s fast-paced world, many of us are caught between the desire to be the most successful people in our career, and the most attentive parents, partners, or friends too. A survey conducted in 2016 found that “enjoying life to the fullest” was one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions among respondents. Unfortunately, it’s hard to get the most out of every day when you’re constantly worrying about emails or traveling to business meetings.
The good news is that there are plenty of ways that you can invest in better work/life balance. For instance, why not ask your boss whether it’s possible for you to work part-time from home. That way, you can dial into meetings with a conference call service, and be available to keep an eye on the kids at the same time. Plus, since you don’t have to travel across the country to meet with clients when you have a conference calling service, there are more opportunities to spend weekends with your loved ones.
“I Want to Manage my Budget Better”
There’s a good chance that your bank account may be looking a little worse for wear now that the holiday season is over. While many people make New Year resolutions based on their career, or health, it’s also worth thinking about your financial situation, and how you can protect your cash flow in the months to come too.
Getting your financial house in order in time for 2018 can be a great way to reduce the risk that you’ll end up struggling with unexpected bills and debts by the time Christmas arrives again. For most people, good budgeting starts with the right mindset. With that in mind, start reading blogs about how you can adjust your spending habits, or check out this article on how you can save more money and spend less each month.
Remember to shop around for deals and discounts on the bills you pay for every month too. There’s always a chance that you could be missing out on a cheaper phone bill, or broadband service.
“I Want to Be More Organized”
Do you ever find yourself running around in a panic at the last moment before an important event because you’ve forgotten to properly schedule your time? If deadlines seem to pass you by on a constant basis, and you’re frequently struggling to finish work on time each day, then this could be a good sign that you need to improve your organization skills.
These tips could help you to organize your life more efficiently, so you have more time to enjoy the little experiences that make the world such a wonderful place. After all, it’s worth remembering that your life is made up of little moments. If you’re constantly rushing from one task to the next, it’s difficult to appreciate the things you do.
“I Want to Stop Smoking”
Quitting cigarettes is a very noble New Year’s resolution to make, and one of the biggest changes that most people make at the start of the new year. Unfortunately, giving up an addictive habit can be a very difficult process and something that only about 4 to 7% of all smokers manage to do successfully.
The good news is that your chances of breaking the habit rise significantly (to about 25%) when you combine anti-smoking solutions like patches and gum, with counseling services and social support. Ultimately, the key to giving up cigarettes for good is making sure that you have the right people around you to motivate you into making a change.
“I Want to Be Less Stressed”
Finally, feelings of stress have become so common in today’s environment, that many people believe we’re facing an epidemic. Of course, changing your life isn’t as simple as telling yourself that you’re not going to stress out anymore. Now that the New Year is here, try implementing things into your routine that could make it easier for you to manage stress when it does arrive.
For instance, daily meditation can be a fantastic solution for battling stress. Some research suggests that mediating each day can alter the way the brain works on a cognitive level, which means that you’re more resilient when something doesn’t go wrong in your life.
About the Author:
Rupesh Singh is freelance writer and founder of Moneyoutline com. You can follow him on Google+ or Facebook.
