How to Survive a New Year's Resolution

With less than a month to go till 2009, we know many people are thinking about the past year and what they'd like to do differently within the next 365 days.

The thing about resolutions is that we constantly set ourselves up for disappointment. Either the goal is too big and we're upset that we don't get there quickly enough, or we don't surround ourselves with enough encouragement and support to follow through. Making a resolution is largely about making change easier. We don't often want to do the things we've put our minds to because they don't happen easily. But you can make your resolution work for you if you go one step at a time and learn to frame your goals positively ("I will do this") instead of negatively ("I won't do that.")

Old Resolution: Join a Gym. Losing weight is arguably the most popular resolution there is. We all want to look and feel our best, especially after we’ve eaten and drunk our way through the six weeks between Thanksgiving and the New Year. But let’s face it—you’re going to blow a ton of cash on a gym membership you’ll never use.
Anti-Resolution: Workout Wherever You Are. You’ll work out for two days, get sore (or get bored) and quit. Baby-step your way to fitness instead. Start taking a walk after dinner a night or two per week. Do some crunches during commercials. Want to try yoga? Get a DVD or take a single class. As you see ways to fit exercise into your schedule, you’ll develop a routine that will lead you to more regular workouts that you can commit to, at the gym or at home.

Old Resolution: Pay Off Debt. Now, more than ever, we’re consumed by debt. It is important to get yourself on track financially, but you have to recognize that it’s going to take a lot more than a resolution to stick to a budget and pay down your debt—and that it may take a lot more than a year to do it.
Anti-Resolution: Use Less Credit. Remember when credit cards were for “emergencies?” That pair of suede ankle boots is so not an emergency. Stick to cash or your debit card. Try it one time: When you’re in line at the register or paying a bill, ask yourself if you can do it with what’s in your checking account. If the answer is no, leave it behind. You’ll feel better in the long run knowing that your debt burden is decreasing.

Old Resolution: Save Money. Yes, we should all have more in the bank, or in our 401(k). But you’re not going to see the results of a savings plan overnight, which is likely to make you feel like there’s no progress being made.
Anti-Resolution: Give Your Money Away. Try remembering that there is always someone out there who needs your money more than you do. Perhaps it’s tipping your barista this week. Next week you could give a little to your favorite charity. Next month, you might find yourself sponsoring a child. If you can find the funds to do that, you’ll realize money isn’t buying your happiness—and you’ll be more than happy to find a way to set some aside for your own rainy day.