It’s the 2nd quarter of 2023. The celebrations of the new year have come and gone. Many people make resolutions to better themselves, spend more time with family and friends, stress less, exercise, get their finances in order, etc. But most resolutions are forgotten within the first 3 weeks of the new year. Staying accountable can be challenging to manage and stay on the path, which is why most resolutions don’t make it passed the first month. Finding a partner or a coach can help keep you on the right track and turn those resolutions into habits. Surrounding yourself with people who want to help you succeed and are on your team will also be a good way to confirm success. We won’t always win all of them, but the best we can do is try. To reset the start of your year, here are some quick tips to help attain a few of the forgotten resolutions.
- Remember that credit card debt you wanted to knock out this year? It is hard to get ahead when making the minimum payment or a little over when most of it goes to interest. Look for a new card that will allow you to transfer your debt and hold off the interest for 18 months or more. That way, your payments going in are going directly toward your debt and not just paying the interest.
- Self-care – what is it? And why do we need it? Ever heard the term if you don’t take care of yourself, how do you expect you will take care of others? There’s a reason the flight attendant on the airplane says to put your mask on first before helping others. It doesn’t have to be a big change, but if you’re like me, it’s difficult to do. Start by doing one small thing for yourself each morning, like a word of affirmation to start the day. Have a special thing you can do just for you that brings you comfort and joy. When in the midst of a decision, maybe a purchase for yourself – go for the little extra. You’re worth it!
- Exercise – this can be argued as self-care, but it should be in its own category. Something we all should be doing, but it can be easier for some. The benefits are endless: better mental health and wellness, overall stress relief, and just that, it makes you feel good. I don’t recommend you set out to run that marathon if you’re not a seasoned runner. In small doses, anything is better than nothing. You can start with morning stretches, a bike ride, walking, and yoga. All quick doable options to help you move into your resolution for 2023.
- Organization – this can be related to your closets, finances, work, family, kids, and even that junk drawer. The key is to start slowly and make attainable goals, for instance, one closet at a time, not all the closets, basement, and garage in one Saturday. It will never get started or finished. Organizing your finances can also be daunting but having a good patient advisor can help keep you accountable and on track to reach your goals.
- Trying to eat healthier! That’s a big one. We know what we need to do to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Whether you’re thinking about drinking less alcohol or eating more vegetables and fruits. You shouldn’t rush to do it all at once. You want to set yourself up for success. If you eat lots of your lunches and dinners out, try eating a meal or two at home, packing lunch each week, and transitioning into more at-home meals. This can save money, have you eating healthier, and reduce your waistline. That’s what I call a three-in-one resolution!
It’s not surprising that most resolutions fail. There’s a lot to keep up with in life in general, let alone adding caring for family, friends, work, money, and self. The best advice I can offer is to start slowly. Make small changes that can be maintained and become a habit before starting the next change. It can take up to 66 days of repeatedly doing something for it to finally become automatic – some things can take longer. The same can be true of breaking a habit. The bottom line is that if you want to live a long, healthy life, these are some tips worth working on to make into a habit and succeed in those forgotten resolutions.
