The top 5 New Year’s resolutions you can actually keep!

January 2, 2018

You’ve flipped the calendar to a new year. It’s a fresh start. If you’re like many people, you’ve made at least one New Year’s resolution—something to start, change, eliminate, or do better. And, like many people, the resolution fades away soon into the new year. Only about 8 percent of people who make the declaration will actually follow through to meet their challenge. These changes you want to make are the result of habits that have built up over years. Your very first resolution should be to accept that it’s not easy to make improvements. Then, give yourself a short list of the most important resolutions and create a plan that will help you stay on track. Here are the top 5 New Year’s resolutions—and suggestions for how you can actually keep them. #1. Eat healthier. Whether you want to lose weight, reduce your cholesterol, improve your heart health, or simply benefit from better nutrition, this life goal is the most popular new year’s resolution. How to keep the new year’s resolution:

Ask yourself why you want to make this change. What do you want to gain? Write it down. Post it on the refrigerator. Hang a note in your pantry.
Avoid the temptation. Walk right past the aisles in the grocery store that pose the biggest threat to achieving your goal. It could be the snacks, cookies, candy, soda, or bakery.
Search for and try new recipes. Set a goal of at least one new recipe each week—entrée, snack, dessert, maybe a smoothie or more appealing salad.
Share your goal with your social community. Use your Facebook friends, Twitter followers, and other social media networks to keep you motivated. Let them know your goals, ask for advice, and post your progress. You’ll find the support you need to keep going when you begin to waver.

#2. Exercise more. While the goal to exercise more is a valiant goal, it’s a tough one to stick with. First of all, you’re busy, and it’s hard to find time in your schedule, particularly with all the catching up you need to do after the holidays are over. Secondly, you’ve made this resolution in the dead of winter, when it’s much harder to get out and enjoy recreational pursuits. How to keep the new year’s resolution:

Define what “exercise” means. Is it going to the gym, taking aerobics classes, or walking every day? Exercise is anything that gets you moving and elevates your heart rate. Don’t think of it as a burden because this mindset automatically presents an obstacle to keeping the promise to yourself.
Find fun alternatives to workouts. You could take a dance class, walk up the stairs at work instead of using the elevator, park farther away from the entrance, or play more vigorously with your kids or grandkids. If you regularly get together with friends for coffee or lunch, switch to meeting for a walk. Turn housework into an energy routine by dancing to music as you go through your chores.
Track your progress. Buy a fitness tracker (e.g. FitBit) or download an app on your smartphone that allows you to track your activity and keep a record. Check it daily. Set weekly goals.

#3. Try something new. This resolution sounds like fun, so why is it difficult to keep? There are so many opportunities to try something new that maybe you need a push, a reminder, or just a little help in pinning down the ideas and getting started. How to keep the new year’s resolution:

Make a list. What do you want to try? What has been on your list of “one of these days, I’m going to…”? Sit down and think about some activities you’d like to explore, and give yourself a monthly challenge. You can start simply, with a new food, for example. You might want to go to a local attraction that you haven’t yet experienced. That’s an easy one to check off your list!
Ask for suggestions. Not sure about new things to try? Ask. Post a question on your social media network. Maybe you want to read more so request recommendations of books. Find out about hobbies that people enjoy and places to visit. You can also search online for groups to join and classes to take. If you’re in the Columbia, South Carolina, area, join our McGuinn Homes monthly bingo game, held the first Tuesday of every month.

#4. Budget better. Some people want to save money—actually stash it away—while others are focused on reducing debt. It all starts by budgeting your income and expenses with more care. How to keep the new year’s resolution:

Examine your cash flow. There are two ways to improve your financial situation: increase your income and reduce your expense. Take a good look at where the money comes in and goes out. What changes can you make? Can you live more efficiently, by reducing your energy bills, for example? Maybe you can prepare more meals at home to save on dining at restaurants. When you have a clear vision of your income and expenses, you can make changes that deliver the results you need.
Set a monthly goal. How much do you want to save? Set a target for improving your financial situation. You could use an online selling app to have a virtual garage sale that turns trash into cash. Also, establish a monthly goal for putting savings into your account.

#5. Enjoy life to the fullest! This seems like a tough item to follow if #4 is also on your list of New Year’s resolutions. But enjoying life isn’t an expense. It’s an investment in your long-term happiness. When you accomplish the first four resolutions, you’ll discover that #5 comes naturally. You’ll feel better, have more energy and motivation, and have the financial stability to support your more fulfilling life! If enjoying life more fully brings you to the conclusion that you need a new home that better fits your lifestyle and goals, talk to us at McGuinn Homes. Explore our new home communities throughout the Columbia, South Carolina, region. We have a wide selection of quick move-in homes if you’re ready to move now. We can also build on your lot. Happy New Year, and good luck with your resolutions!