Shortly before the New Year rolls in, many Americans make their New Year’s Resolutions, hoping that this will be the year they achieve it. Each year, only 20 percent of Americans who make a resolution will actually fulfill it. So how can one ensure they will keep their resolution and not end up being one of the 80 percent who don’t?    

            It’s very important to set a realistic goal. If you’re only making $30,000 a year, it’s highly unlikely that you will become a multimillionaire in one short year, and although winning the lottery might be nice, it isn’t a realistic goal either. Try to keep your goals simple, especially if you have trouble sticking to them.

            Once you have a goal in mind, make sure to plan out how you are going to achieve it. For example, if you’re goal is to lose 10 pounds, you may want to set aside a few days a week for exercise and cut back on dessert.

            If you’re having trouble meeting your goal, like many people, try to reward yourself. If your goal is to quit smoking, reward yourself for every week you don’t smoke. Then, gradually increase the amount of time needed to obtain your reward. Go from one week, to two, to one month, and so on. The reward should be something meaningful to you so that you will want to work for it. Start out with something simple like watching television for an extra hour and gradually progress to a bigger reward like buying a new pair of shoes or treating yourself to an expensive dinner. 

            Be sure that you plan for setbacks. If you get off track, don’t think, “That’s it! It’s never going to happen!”Don’t get discouraged, remember to think positively and talk to a friend or family member. More often than not, a person just needs to know that there is someone in their corner, backing them up.  

Most Popular New Year’s Resolutions for Adults 

1. Lose Weight

2. Save Money

3. Manage Debt

4. Get a Better Job

5. Eat Right

6. Get Fit

7. Volunteer to Help Others

8. Quit Smoking

9. Drink Less Alcohol

10. Reduce Stress

11. Take a Trip

Most Popular New Year’s Resolutions for Children

• Get homework done

• Get to bed on time

• Be nice to other kids

• Respect adults, i.e. parents and teachers

• Find enjoyable activities

• Resist peer pressure

• Choose non-violent television shows and video games

• Volunteer