Resolution Time!

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By KATIE ROYAL HAMPSHIRE – It's that time again. Time to make some changes in your life, turn over a new leaf, become a new man. The dawn of 2009 demands it. Yes, it's new year's resolution time. Jan. 1 is here, and it's an opportunity to make that life-changing decision to improve yourself or your life, one day at a time. Now, there are plenty of people who have no interest in new year's resolutions, and this is probably because they know it's something they will never stick to. The diets, nicotine patches and budgets more often than not go out the window before February even shows up. However, for those people – and for those who insist that this is a perfect time to make a change for good – there are some tips that might make those difficult days a little easier, and the end results more lasting. Obviously, everyone is different and has different goals in life, but there are some common resolutions that show up year after year and can be addressed to make those transitions a little smoother.

Losing weight Perhaps the most common new year's resolution is to lose weight, or in some way become healthier, whether it's through diet or exercise or both. The first thing to keep in mind, with any sort of resolution, is that it will be easier to stick to if you have help. This can come in the form of a friend who is doing the same thing, or in the case of losing weight it can be a personal trainer, nutritionist or even a teacher for a fitness class. Anyone who will hold you accountable for keeping up with your program is a good person to have around. When it comes to exercising, remember that cardio workouts will help you burn off calories, but strength training is important as well, as the more muscle you build up the faster your metabolism works. However, you'll want to do about twice as much cardio as strength training if weight loss is your goal. Also, remember to challenge yourself. See if you can run a little farther than the last time or a little longer. Try lifting a little more weight or doing a few more reps than last time. If you keep pushing yourself you'll always have a higher goal to reach for. However, always do this safely, and see a doctor before attempting any strenuous exercise. As far as dieting goes, it can be more fun and less painful than you think. It doesn't mean cutting out everything you love and replacing it with fat-free, color-free, taste-free mush. Simple changes can make a big difference. Cutting out soda and drinking mostly water and low-calorie beverages can be a great start. Rather than focusing on cutting out "bad" foods, think about adding fruits and vegetables. Eat these first, and you likely won't be so hungry for junk food. Even if you are still hungry, you'll likely not want to ruin the good feeling of eating healthy with something bad for you. It's important to remember that adding spice to your foods is a simple and mostly calorie-free way to make it taste good. And don't think that you can't ever have your favorite snacks while dieting, just keep them to a minimum and try to eat them away from home, as stocking the shelves with fun, fattening foods will just tempt you to break your resolution.

Stop smoking There are plenty of reasons to quit smoking, the most obvious being the health risks, not to mention the financial cost of continuing the habit. And forget the idea that you can't quit if you've been smoking for a long time, because it's always possible with the right mindset and a good measure of will- power. First, understand that you must quit smoking for yourself. Doing it for others will not likely be a lasting motivation. Also, it is a good idea to go into this resolution with a slightly different mindset than you might for the others; do it one day at a time. Don't necessarily try to quit forever, because you need a measurable goal, whether it's hours, days, weeks or longer. As with losing weight, always look to push your goal further. Keep yourself motivated with this goal by writing down why you're doing it. Use these reasons when you're tempted to smoke again. Also, to keep the anxiety and other withdrawal symptoms from drawing you into another puff, make sure to take care of the rest of your health as well as you can. Eating healthy and exercising will help keep your stress level down and keep you from gaining weight. Remember that once you've begun this journey, there is no reason to go back, Even the most stressful situation will not be solved with nicotine, and realizing this will hopefully allow you to find more positive ways of coping. As with other habits, whether it's adding a good one or quitting a bad one, it will be easier if you have a support system. Avoiding other smokers may be difficult or impossible depending on your situation, but announcing your intent to quit and avoiding or standing up to peer pressure will be key to sticking to this. It is important to remember, though, that when you quit smoking you must be careful not to replace it with an equally unhealthy crutch, such as drinking excessively or overeating. Find something else to do with your hands and mouth, like knitting or chewing sugar-free gum to start.

Save money/Get out of debt In this economic struggle, money is on everyone's mind. Ways to make or save more of it, and ways to get out from under tons of debt are hot topics on any Web forum. Because of this, you'll only find a few ideas on saving and ridding yourself of debt here, but remember to look online for more advice. This can be a much more stressful resolution to take on than some others, because this is one that is often made out of necessity. However, that means it will be that much easier, or at least more motivating, to keep. When it comes to saving money, all it usually takes is a little planning and forethought. Planning ahead can save you money on gas, food, vacations and energy costs. You will get better gas mileage if you drive smoothly at a reasonable speed. Easing up on both the accelerator and the brake will not only save you money at the gas station, but will likely keep you from getting into accidents and will be less stressful and healthier for you in the long run. Planning meals ahead, eating at home and using coupons to buy groceries are all great ways to save money on food. If you must eat out, stick to a budget and take leftovers home, making two meals out of one. Planning vacations ahead of time will almost always save you money as last-minute fares are usually more expensive. Also, when it comes to energy costs, set your thermostat down at night and use a space heater or electric blanket in the winter, and turn the thermostat up at night in summer, using a fan to cool the sleeping rooms. As for getting out of debt, a financial expert is often the best resource for helping determine your best individualized plan. However, a few simple tips may be helpful for everyone in the meantime. First, create and stick to a realistic monthly budget. As for credit card debt, work on paying off the balance on the card with the highest interest rate first to save yourself some money in the long run. However, try to get all of your credit balances to below 50 percent of the card's limit first, as keeping higher balances will have negative effects on your credit limit. Try to use cash instead of credit cards as much as possible. And when it comes to paying off debt, do your best not to borrow money to do so, as it will only cause you more problems farther down the road.

No matter what your new year's resolution is, make sure to think ahead, take it one step at a time, and look for help or support in sticking to it. There's no shame in looking to others, especially if it results in you accomplishing your goals.