10 New Year’s Resolutions You Can Actually Keep

Posted on December 14, 2010 by admin

New Year's is a time for starting fresh and setting goals that you'd like to accomplish. For many people this comes in the form of New Year's resolutions. Get fit, stop smoking, learn a new language and lose 30 pounds are just a few of the popular resolutions that just never seem to come to fruition. Instead of making promises you can't keep again this year, face the reality and start making resolutions that are within your means. Here are 10 New Year's resolutions you can actually keep:

1. Be Nicer to People: Being nicer to people is something we can all realistically do more often. This New Year's resolution doesn't require you to donate to a charity every month or compliment every person you see on the street, but just be kinder to people. Simply saying hello and goodbye to people, watching what you say before you blurt out an insult and lending a helping hand to someone, even when it's inconvenient for you, are all realistic examples of being nicer to people.
2. Get More Sleep: One New Year's resolution you could actually keep is getting more sleep. It will certainly require some effort on your part to finish tasks early so you can make it to bed at a decent time, but it's not an impossible feat either. Your body and mind will appreciate the extra Zs, and getting more sleep can actually help you accomplish your other resolutions much easier.
3. Give Blood: If you'd like to give back to the community in a big way but cannot commit to being a volunteer, why not give blood? Giving blood is a terrific selfless act that makes a huge difference in people's lives. Your donation of one pint can save up to three lives and you can give blood every 56 days if you want. Even if you only donate a couple times a year, it's still more than what the average American donates. Your New Year's resolution will save lives; and it doesn't get much better than that.
4. Indulge in Moderation: So many people make grandiose New Year's resolutions, like quit drinking and stop eating junk food, but cannot stick to them. These resolutions are not realistic for the average person because we all like to indulge every once in a while. You'll have a better chance at limiting your alcohol and junk food intake if you do it in moderation. It's highly unlikely that someone who enjoys red wine, chocolate and pizza are going to be able to give it up cold turkey, so let yourself indulge in moderation for a more realistic approach to healthier eating.
5. Floss Regularly: Flossing your teeth and gums regularly is a New Year's resolution you can certainly keep up with. Obviously if you have to add it to your resolutions list, it's not the easiest habit to develop, but it's not impossible to get better at. For a couple extra minutes every morning or night, start flossing before you brush your teeth. Regular flossing has many oral health benefits, such as preventing cavities, removing plaque, preventing bad breath and giving you a better teeth cleaning.
6. Stop Overspending: Do you really need expensive shoes, the latest cell phone or the hottest car on the block? Probably not. You may or may not be able to afford these luxuries, but that doesn't mean overspending isn't a problem. If you genuinely want to save money and manage your debt debt, you should stop overspending as a New Year's resolution. If you stop overspending and start living within your means, it will make a world of difference for your finances and state of mind. It may require the help of a financial advisor or a patient friend, but stopping overspending is a realistic New Year's resolution you can actually keep.
7. Do Your Best at Work: Many New Year's resolutions include finding a better job, but in this tough economic climate, the employed should be so lucky to simply have a job. If you really want to maximize your potential and better your career, make a resolution to do your very best at work. There may be additional responsibilities you could take on, or maybe you could stay late to help out a coworker. If you're unsure about how you can do better than you already are, ask your boss and I'm sure they'd be happy to tell you and impressed that you asked.
8. Do Exercises that Make You Happy: Exercising is almost always on everyone's New Year's resolutions list and it's usually followed by 'lose 20 pounds.' If you really want to start exercising regularly and see weight loss results, you may need to tweak your resolutions a little. Instead of simply putting exercise, try doing exercises that make you happy. With the amount of exercises and workout classes available today, you shouldn't waste your time doing exercises that frustrate you or make you feel less than stellar. It doesn't matter if you prefer long-distance running, yoga or weightlifting; if you do what makes you happy you'll be more likely to exercise regularly.
9. Recycle: If you want to do something good for the environment and actually stick to it this year, make recycling your New Year's resolution. Recycling is a realistic resolution you can keep up with, especially if your recyclables can be picked up at your house. Even if you don't have that convenience, you may not have to drive far to recycle plastic, paper, glass, aluminum and other recyclable products. To ensure that you follow this resolution, designate a bin or box for recycling so that family and guests know where to put their recyclables and nothing goes to waste.
10. Give More Affection: If you aren't the most affectionate person and want to start giving more hugs every day, you can make this one of your realistic New Year's resolutions. It's not too terribly hard to give more affection every day and it doesn't have to be physical either. A smile, kind words and spending time with friends are other easy examples of showing affection to those you care about.

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