Top New Year's Resolutions 2009
It's that time of year again to make those promises to ourselves that we hope to keep in the New Year! Franklin Covey releases results from a New Year's resolution survey every year in December. For 2009, here are the top 5 New Year's resolutions:
1.) Get out of debt or save money.
2.) Lose weight.
3.) Develop a healthy habit (like healthy eating or exercise)
4.) Get organized.
5.) Spend more time with family and friends.
Unsurprisingly, the top 5 New Year's resolutions for 2009 are pretty much the same as for 2008. It's also not surprising that two out of five have to do with health and fitness! While I appreciate the work that Franklin Covey puts into getting this data, I do think they lump quite a bit together in order to abbreviate. The bigger question, though, than WHAT people are resolved to accomplish in 2009 is HOW should you make your New Year's resolutions so they stick until 2010 and beyond?
No More Than 3.
I personally prefer sticking to 1 resolution, but 3 is more than enough for those of you who are life multi-taskers. Keeping the list short will keep your eye on the prize. It's better psychologically if you accomplish all two or three resolutions instead of skipping ten!
Be Specific.
Unlike Franklin Covey's survey, you want a specific goal in mind for each resolution plus a plan to get there. If you're going to lose weight, how much weight are you going to lose and how are you going to lose it?
Write it Down and Tell Someone.
Writing your New Year's resolutions down makes your goals "real". Better yet, if you start telling people what you're trying to accomplish, you've started building accountability into the process. Nobody likes to admit failure to their friends! Instead, have your loved ones be a source of motivation.
Avoid the Cliche
Don't treat your New Year's resolution like the cliche it's now become. Take your goals seriously and do whatever necessary to maintain good habits over the long run. Pick the New Year as a time to get over any excuses you may have had, and prepare yourself mentally for the challenge.
For me, any day can be a day to inspire change. If New Year's day makes the most sense to you for being serious about goal setting, then you shouldn't be afraid of jumping on the New Year's resolution band wagon. Just remember to think long term and not just one day.
1.) Get out of debt or save money.
2.) Lose weight.
3.) Develop a healthy habit (like healthy eating or exercise)
4.) Get organized.
5.) Spend more time with family and friends.
Unsurprisingly, the top 5 New Year's resolutions for 2009 are pretty much the same as for 2008. It's also not surprising that two out of five have to do with health and fitness! While I appreciate the work that Franklin Covey puts into getting this data, I do think they lump quite a bit together in order to abbreviate. The bigger question, though, than WHAT people are resolved to accomplish in 2009 is HOW should you make your New Year's resolutions so they stick until 2010 and beyond?
No More Than 3.
I personally prefer sticking to 1 resolution, but 3 is more than enough for those of you who are life multi-taskers. Keeping the list short will keep your eye on the prize. It's better psychologically if you accomplish all two or three resolutions instead of skipping ten!
Be Specific.
Unlike Franklin Covey's survey, you want a specific goal in mind for each resolution plus a plan to get there. If you're going to lose weight, how much weight are you going to lose and how are you going to lose it?
Write it Down and Tell Someone.
Writing your New Year's resolutions down makes your goals "real". Better yet, if you start telling people what you're trying to accomplish, you've started building accountability into the process. Nobody likes to admit failure to their friends! Instead, have your loved ones be a source of motivation.
Avoid the Cliche
Don't treat your New Year's resolution like the cliche it's now become. Take your goals seriously and do whatever necessary to maintain good habits over the long run. Pick the New Year as a time to get over any excuses you may have had, and prepare yourself mentally for the challenge.
For me, any day can be a day to inspire change. If New Year's day makes the most sense to you for being serious about goal setting, then you shouldn't be afraid of jumping on the New Year's resolution band wagon. Just remember to think long term and not just one day.
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Comment by David on December 22, 2008 at 2:32pm -
Great post. For me I've never been a "New Year's Resolution" person but form my own
reasons to change at anytime.
Your post seems to reinforce that.
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Comment by Rob on December 22, 2008 at 2:40pm -
I agree. A New Year's resolution should be treated no different from a goal you'd set on any other day. I think many people just like the idea of January 1st being a "fresh start". That's great if it gets you into the right mental state to accomplish something positive in your life.
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Comment by David on December 22, 2008 at 3:20pm
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Rob, I totally agree with you. And I find your analysis of trying to accomplish too many goals at one time both refreshing and honest. Honest because it's true.
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Comment by Lisa Newton on December 22, 2008 at 10:24pm -
I used to live behind a shopping center that had a gym. During the month of January, I could never find parking for the grocery store that was also included in the shopping center. However, as time past, but the end of February, parking wasn't an issue.
People who resolved to get fit on January 1 had lost interest and quit going to the gym.
It's too bad resolutions often times fail, at least over the long term.
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Comment by Rob on December 23, 2008 at 2:51am
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I suppose if more people actually kept up over the long term, we wouldn't be seeing the same items in the top 5 year after year! At least there are exceptions, and hopefully with encouragement more people will break the cycle.
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