Here we are at the start of 2016 with a whole new year stretching ahead. For many of us, now is the time that we will start to think about what we want to get from that new year, changes we want to make and goals we want to set. However, while resolutions can be a great way to focus the mind, they are also often just a temporary set of goals that quickly slip because they’re not realistic. In fact, time management organisation Franklin Covey says that 30% of all New Year’s resolutions are in the bin by February. To help you create new year’s resolutions this year that will really make a difference we’ve identified the problem ones and some better alternatives.
Get thin
Yes, I’m sure this features on the lists many of us have made for this year but something as broad as this – or ‘lose weight’ if you’re looking for less extreme results – isn’t really a very sensible choice. Instead, set yourself a realistic weight loss target in figures, one that you can easily meet with the demands of your lifestyle, and most likely exceed.
Example: lose two pounds a month throughout the year.
Exercise
Another classic new year’s resolution that we all make without really setting out a clear picture of how to do it. The most important element of any goal is the detail so make sure you communicate – to yourself – what this promise actually involves. How will you exercise, when will you exercise, what are the goals of that exercise meant to be and when are you going to start? Use these to create a much more effective exercising resolution.
Example: start running twice a week for 10 minutes and increase by five minutes per month (remember, if you have any medical conditions, you should always consult a doctor before you start exercise to make sure it’s the right type for you). And building exercise into your daily routine is a much more effective plan, even if it is simply walking to work.
Pay off debts
This is a resolution that can be made when filled with hope and then quickly abandoned if your debts are a mountain that is very difficult to make into a molehill. Rather than finding yourself giving up half way through the year when you realise you’ll never pay off all your debts by 2017, reduce your goals and targets to something more manageable. None of us knows what lies ahead next year but if you’re aiming to get those debts down, regardless, start small and work up.
Example: start budgeting and set aside a small amount each month to put towards your debts. Even £50 a month will add up to £600 by the end of the year. And you’ll save even more on not paying interest. And using the Solution Loans Quickstart tool can help you check if switching your type of debt could help you too.
Go out less
Whether you’re looking to start budgeting and you need to cut down on the amount that you spend on leisure activities, or you want to cut back on trips out for health reasons, changing your lifestyle can have some really positive benefits. However, this kind of resolution rarely works unless you replace it with an alternative. We humans are really not that good at denying ourselves and, as countless diets over the years have proved, the more we tell ourselves not to do something, the more we want to do it. Set yourself a positive goal, rather than a negative one and you will find it easier to stick by.
Example: spend one weekend a month entirely at home, get two full nights of 12 hours of sleep, catch up on cleaning, exercise and life admin.
Get married/get a partner
This is the kind of resolution that inevitably ends in disappointment when you put such a fierce time limit on it. Although there’s no need to sit around and wait for Mr or Mrs Right to come along – or if you feel like you and your partner are ready to get married, why not – attaching these life decisions to a set of new year’s resolutions sort of diminishes their value. Plus, you’ll feel like a terrible failure if you aren’t able to achieve these things, which are actually far less within your control than something like weight loss or making financial savings.
Example: focus on you instead. Make more ‘me’ time for you to have to yourself – take up meditation, read more books, do more walking – and make your big decisions when the time feels right rather than when the year is coming to an end.
Alex Hartley is a keen advocate of improving personal finance skills. She's worked at Solution Loans since 2014 and written hundreds of articles about how people can manage their money better. Her interest in personal finance goes way back to...Read about Alex Hartley
We use cookies to make your experience on our site even better. They also help us to understand how you use our site. By clicking 'Accept All' you're agreeing to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie preferences by choosing 'Manage Settings' and if you want to know more, you can read our cookie policy.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.