This year when you sit down to make your resolutions for the new year, be sure to make resolutions that you can keep. That means making realistic resolutions, if you need to lose weight it may better to say I will eat healthier this year, rather than I will lose 75 pounds by August. When August rolls by and you have not lost 75 pounds you may feel that you have failed; you have not failed, your goal may not have been realistic. If instead, you decide to eat healthy foods you will have to make better buying decisions when shopping for groceries. Eating healthy pretty much starts you on your way to loosing weight, not necessarily 75 pounds by a certain date, but for sure someweight loss and better health. Subtle positive health results and the loss of a few pounds may be enough to help you reach your goal.

I do not make resolutions but I do make promises to myself and establish goals. My number one promise is to continue donating books to my library, I am working harder toward my goal of one book case of books, since a child paid a visit this past summer and thought my apartment was a library and I was the library lady.

While researching I noticed that debt reduction is high on the list of resolutions. As one who has tackled debt reduction and won I can tell you just listing all of my debt was enough to make me follow through and stay debt-free. I found there is nothing quite so alarming or sobering as seeing the dollar amount of money you have spent eating out.

Exercise seems to be on everyone’s list of resolutions, as is stopping a habit that is dangerous to health (smoking, drinking, etc.) If debt reduction is on your list, and you also decided to quit smoking, you have a win-win combination. You probably don’t realize what smoking costs you, health-wise and in dollars. List the number of cartons of cigarettes you buy each month, multiply the monthly cost and finally multiply that number by 12. If that does not make you quit smoking, it may make you cut back, which is the first step to quitting. If (when) you do stop smoking or start smoking less, put that money in your desk and bank it monthly. This idea comes from a friend, who thought actually looking at the money she usually spent in each month would help her see the light. It did.

Go ahead and make your resolutions, but don’t make resolutions that will be almost impossible for you to keep. Start with what you can accomplish, then reach further. If you think you drink or gamble too much, you probably do. Step up and join AA or Gamblers Anonymous, your friends don’t have to know; if you do see a friend at either of the meetings your secret will be safe with them.