1. Lose Weight

Over half of adults in the United States are overweight, so its no surprise that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. However, saying and doing are two completely different things. In order to really lose weight in 2010, set reasonable goals for yourself and stay focused. It helps to join a weight loss program, where you’ll receive support from others with similar goals as well as expert advice from experienced professionals. This is the key time for success for those of you who made the New Year’s commitment to shed some extra pounds.

2. Get out of Debt

If money issues contributed to your high level of stress in 2009, you may resolve to eliminate (or at least lessen) your debt in the New Year. One of the most important ways to do this is to pay more than your minimum balance. When you pay the minimum, most of it goes towards interest, which is why it takes a while to pay off the original debt. You wouldn’t pay $500 for an item that is marked with a $100 price tag, would you? If you can’t afford to pay more than the minimum balance, you can’t afford what was charged on your card in the first place. So, stick to one credit card (the one with the lowest interest rate) and cut the rest up. Pay more than your minimum, and watch the debt slowly slip away.

3. Get Fit

Losing weight and getting fit are two separate resolutions. Everyone should exercise, no matter what their weight, because we all know that regular exercise has been associated with many health benefits – reduction in the risk of some cancers, increased longevity, enhanced mood, lower blood pressure and even improved arthritis. To get motivated, think of working out as a break from a stressful day, alone time, a reward, or an energy booster instead of an obligation. Exercise 3 times a week, and you really will start to feel better.

4. Help Those In Need

A popular and selfless New Year’s resolution is volunteerism. You can mentor a child, help out at a local animal shelter or at a homeless shelter, or assist in building a house or cleaning up a local park. All the nonprofit volunteer organizations could really use your help. Log onto http://www.1-800-volunteer.org or call 1-800-volunteer (864868337) to find opportunities in your community.

5. Quit Smoking

Although it won’t be easy, resolving to put out your smoking habit will benefit you in the long run. There are many over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapies available. If you’ve tried to quit before and failed, remember that on average, smokers try about 4 times before they quit for good. To ensure success, consult your doctor before quitting, pick a quit date and stick to it, and get rid of all cigarettes and smoking accessories. Ask friends who smoke not to do it around you, and if you can find a quitting buddy, you can support each other through the process.

6. Get organized

Organization is a very popular as well as reasonable goal. Whether you want to organize your home, your office, or your life in general, there are a few tips you should know. First, you need to buy a day planner and at least one wall calendar. Secondly, you should go through each space you want to organize one at a time – get rid of anything you haven’t used in the past year (excluding important documents or sentimental items). Thirdly, get storage bins and label each one. Lastly, hold a family clean up day at least twice a year and make each family member fill a trash bag with junk. (Remember: You can always donate unused items to a local shelter. Plus, you can sell almost anything nowadays on websites like Ebay)

7. Spend more time with friends and family

Many of you will vow to be a better mother, sister, aunt, pet owner, etc. However, talk is cheap, so take action and start planning ways in which you can reconnect with your family. Love get-togethers? Plan a family reunion. Into crafts? Make family scrapbooks for every one’s birthdays this year. You can also get family members together to create a family cookbook or an artistic family tree. Remember, family is very important, so don’t let yourself lose touch.

8. Learn Something New

Many people are thirsty for knowledge, and they use the New Year as an excuse to vow to learn new things. Although you should never need an excuse, learning is a terrific way to broaden your horizons. If you are curious about the way something works, read a how-to book. Interested in a certain subject? Take a class at a local college. Learning how to knit or garden can also be fun. For a more challenging task, learn a new language. Whatever you choose, you’ll find education to be one of the easiest and most motivating resolutions to keep.

9. Quit Drinking

Many people use the New Year as an incentive to stop drinking. In some cases, this means giving up a few drinks a day, which can be done by tapering down to one a day and then to none. In other cases, this decision is more drastic. If you are a heavy drinker, you may have more success if you try to quit gradually, or if you learn to moderate your drinking. There is a lot of help and support available for anyone who wants to stop drinking. To get a better picture of where you are now, so that you can make an informed decision about how to proceed, you should first talk with your family doctor. You can also log onto http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org or http://www.niaaa.nih.gov. Both websites offer resources, tips and professional advice.

10. Enjoy Life

A lot of bad things have happened in 2009, including the current recession and the Bernie Madoff scandal, among other things. Lots of people will resolve to enjoy their lives a little more in 2010, because we are all very aware of how short life is. In order to do this, remember the following: work is just work, there are other important things to do in life; don’t spread yourself too thin, you are certain to miss life’s details; remember to relax; don’t compare yourself to other people, you are unique; surround yourself with family and friends who love you; and most importantly, learn to laugh at yourself and at your mistakes. If you follow these simple tips, you will find that your life will become more enjoyable – and that’s what it is all about, isn’t it?

We all know how stressful this time of year can be. The pressure to find  the perfect gift for everyone on your list as well as the million other things there is to do to prepare for the holidays can be taxing on both your schedule and your peace of mind.

The holiday season is meant to be a time of togetherness and relaxation. But how can anyone feel like that when there is so much pressure, so much to do, and seemingly so little time? Take a deep breath and follow these tips to relax your mind, calm your nerves, and start to enjoy the holiday and everything it brings.

Peace in your relationship

The holiday season can be very trying especially in regards to time. This is probably why couples are more likely to call it quits during this time of year than any other. Although you may feel pressure to be festive and cheerful during this time of year, understand that it’s normal to feel sadness or anxiety and that you are not alone. Don’t let your busy schedules cause you to lose time together. Take 10 minutes out of the day to catch up, whether over the phone or over drinks. It’s important not to lose your feelings of connection and compassion especially during this stressful and busy time of year. Try not to get aggravated with each other over silly things, and make an effort to be understanding that both of you are under a lot of stress and can’t necessarily be as romantic or considerate as you’d normally expect them to be.

Peace in your family

Make an effort to spend time with your family, even they don’t always live up to expectations. Especially if this is the only time of year that you will see them, don’t hold onto grudges, and hold off on anger until it can be discussed at a more appropriate time or venue. Try to be understanding of their issues and imperfections. Try to refrain from getting upset or frustrated if something comes up or goes wrong. Remember that your family is sure to be  under extreme holiday stress as well and getting angry at each other will only be one more thing that you will have to worry about.

Peace in your social circle

You don’t have to make an appearance at every party that you’re invited to. Learn that you can say no and still keep your friends too. Saying yes to every invitation may just lead you to feel overwhelmed and frustrated and can stop you from having a good time at the party. If you know that you will be spending more time at a party imagining the millions of things that you’ll need to do once you get home then skip it. Friends and collegues will understand that you’re not blowing them off because you want to, but because you are super busy during this time of year. If your boss asks you to work overtime, or something that you can’t turn down comes up, look for other things that can be cut out of your agenda to make up for the lost time.

Peace in your wallet

Before you join the masses of holiday shoppers, plan out your budget and decide how much you can afford to spend on gifts, decorations, food and etc. Then stick to your budget. Don’t be tempted by things just because there is a 40% markoff on it.  And don’t fall into the trap of buying one thing to get another thing for half the price when both items are things that you can do without! Put quality over quantity when it comes to buying gifts. And remember, that it’s not the cost of the gift that counts, but its significance to the person that it is being given to. Remembering that the thought is what counts, but the thought is not the fact that you got the gift, but that you chose something that you thought would mean a lot to the recipient/

Peace on your waistline

Don’t let the holidays be your excuse to overindulge. Eating a bunch of sweets or forgoing your weekly visit to the gym will only increase your stress and sense of guilt. Have a healthy snack before going to the party so that you don’t feel the urge to go overboard on hor d’oeuvres, pastries or drinks. Go to sleep at a decent hour and make sure you exercise, even if it’s just a brisk walk from store to store.

Peace of Mind

Realize that the holidays don’t have to be picture perfect or even just like last year’s. You and your family have changed and grown in the last year and so can your holiday traditions. That doesn’t mean that you have to completely change up the routine that you’ve stuck with for the past 15 years. Just be open to changes and don’t freak out if things don’t go exactly as they used to. If everyone can’t make it home for the holidays, realize that it’s not the end of the world. Find new ways to celebrate such as exchanging pictures, emails or videos. Even just sending a Christmas card is enough to let others know that they’re being thought of. 

Rather than scrambling to get everything done at the last minute, set aside a specific time in which to get all of the shopping, cooking, visiting friends and other activities done so you don’t have to worry about squeezing it all in together at the last minute. Plan the menu for dinner and then get all of the ingredients. That way, you won’t have to worry about what to cook and whether you have everything necessary to make it. Also, get volunteers in advance for party prep and clean up.

Also, don’t forget to set aside some time for yourself. Even  just 15 minutes, spent alone without any distractions, can help to refresh you and make it easier to get through everything else that needs to get done once that 15 minutes is over. Close your eyes and take deep breaths. Listen to soothing music. Whatever it takes to restore your calm, find something that will help clear your mind, and do it whenever you feel particularly overwhelmed.

If you’re feeling more “bah humbug” than ho ho ho, take precautions to avoid the stress and depression that can fall on you during the holidays. Some planning and a little optimism can help you to enjoy this holiday season more than you thought you could.