I am not much of a supporter of new year resolutions, I don’t like waiting around for a specific date to make positive life changes. That said, I guess some people don’t really think about making positive life changes until the new year rolls around.
Out of curiosity, I did a little digging to see what seemed to be the most common new year resolutions that people strive for. It probably isn’t much of a surprise that more than a few are financial goals…
These were the 10 most common resolutions that I noticed
- Get in shape – It isn’t much of a surprise that this is the most common new year’s resolution. It seems to be the most typically set and failed resolution that people make. I don’t know about you, but I have found from failing to keep resolutions many times that I need to make very small changes. Rather than setting a goal to start working out every day, I set a goal to work out once a week. Once I successfully reach that milestone, then I work up to two days a week and so on. For me, this seems to be the only way that works to help me make life changes.
- Eat healthier – A few years ago, I read a book that changed my life. It was called, “What the Bible says about Healthy Living.” I quickly realized that I had been falsely thinking that I was “healthy”. Just like I mentioned above, I didn’t try to change all of my habits at once, but rather focused on making one small change at a time. The result- I am still keeping up with lots of principles I learned in that book.
- Get out of debt – I wonder how many copies of The Total Money Makeover Dave Ramsey sells right at the new year? If this is you, Dave’s book is a great tool. You can also check out the 7 part series I did on getting out of debt.
- Stop smoking – This is a tough one, but probably one of the best things you can do for your physical health.
- Start budgeting – I am always in awe that how much people hate the word “budget.” It really is not a form of modern day torture like some would believe. I can’t tell you how much freedom came after we started budgeting. The key is all about how you set up your budget, but for us, instead of feeling restricted on what to do with our money, it actually provided a lot more freedom and allowed us to spend money on things that we never would have without a budget. I have written quite a bit about budgeting, but if you are just starting I suggest you get some free budget software and read How to Make a Budget.
- Get a new job / Start a business – Boy, do I know the feeling. I had wanted to get a new job and start a business for a while, and I finally found a way to turn my hobby into a full-time income. For inspiration check out the what to do when you hate your job and How I escaped the Rat Race.
- Spend more time with family – This is just another one of the many reasons why I wanted to improve my financial situation.
- Save or make more money – Saving money is another topic that I have written a lot about. Check out the 16 best ways to save money and I also have quite a few posts about ways to make money as well.
- Get your life organized – I feel like I have a lot of areas in my life organized. But my area of difficulty is my time. Time management has always been a struggle for me. I have made steps forward over the years after reading books like The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People or Getting Things Done, but I still have a ways to go.
- Give more – If you are anything like me, you always want to give more, but often overlook opportunities because of the busy-ness of life. It was for this reason that I started the 10 Day Give challenge back in October. A bunch of us did in October, but it is a great excercise to help you stay in the mindset of giving. For inspiration, I leave you with a bunch of great giving scriptures and quotes.
My personal New Year’s resolutions
As I mentioned earlier, I don’t typically set any resolutions for the new year, but like everyone else I do have a few areas I am looking to improve in. Here are a few things I am looking to improve in 2010….
- I want to give more – financially as well other areas of my life
- Continue improving my time management skills
- Read through the whole Bible
- Take my prayer life to the next level
How about you – Do you have any resolutions or goal setting for the new year?
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One of my 2009 goals is 2 of yours combined: wake earlier in order to spend more time with God. And of course, drastically reduce our debt load
I really don’t care for the term “New Years resolutions”.
I do, however, like Nicki’s terminology…goal. A goal,at least in my mind, is more positve than…a new year’s resolution.
Don’t mean to sound “picky”….but the world so often views “resolutions” as something to be broken.
Your goals…almost mirror my own!
yea, I assume there are lots of us with similar goals – they are good and common ones!
People don’t need to wait for new years to make resolutions, if you want to do something, just start doing it. I don’t by into the whole resolutions deal. Set a goal and start, regardless of what it is.
What time would you like to wake up at and what time do you wake up now?
+1 to Craig’s statement.
Earlier in the series there is a discussion on changing your thinking. Quit thinking with a secular world view and think with a Christian world view. Get off your blessed assurance and get it done TODAY!
@Joe Thanks for agreeing. But I am not speaking from a religious angle. I am not a Christian, but enjoy the blog posts for the financial advice, and leave religious views out of it. Regardless of one’s own religious views I still think if you want to achieve something, plan it out, put it into action, work hard, and reach your goals.
I will visit this page again
Bob, thanks for the list – seems like some pretty common resolutions on there.
What I noticed was a lot of “self control” type resolutions – smoking, finances, health, time etc – they all come down to the fact of having control over these things rather than those things controlling us.
Bob, Just curious how you plan to take your prayer life to the next level?
Thanks!
Bob, number 6, 8, and 10 are on my list.
I’d also like to watch less tv, and read more books. More specifically, I’m trying not to watch any tv at all unless it’s with friends or in a social setting. Also, I’ve resolved to read the entire Bible this year as well.
Good luck to everyone with their resolutions!
@Jason,
basically by devoting more time to it! Pretty simple, but I have found that praying the the absolute best investment of my time – even when I have a million things that I “have to” do – spending time with God is usually the best thing I could do at that moment – this doesn’t make it any easier, but at least I am finally learning what the best use of my time is…
Very cool Bob – you’re absolutely right, it is the best use of our time and yet it is so hard to do. What a paradox and something we have to fight for on a regular basis.
I’m learning to appreciate the time spent with God and view it as communion with Him rather than the time spent rambling on about my “needs” and things I hope to see happen.
Growing up in a southern Baptist church, we were always taught that there was a devil and that one of his greatest deceits was convincing people that they were alone in their struggles. That would quickly lead to self-pity and despair. This is one of the reasons, I believe, that the Word tells us that “we overcome by our testimony.”
Well, I’m too thrilled that you posted this list! I think what you listed is almost EXACTLY my list. It’s both comforting and scary to know that I am so “normal.” But at least, I have confirmation that I am not alone – in my shortcomings or my quest to improve.
Thanks for the post.
~bloom
Instead of making New Year’s Resolutions I decided to make Firm Determinations that focus on my Finances, my Health, my Faith, and my Blog…and it looks like I have variations of #’s 1, 2, 8, and 10 on my list.
I love your blog and I look forward to reading it every day!
Mrs. DFx40
I don’t believe in New Years resolutions. The term goal has been mentioned and that is what I like as well. Why wait until the new year to make a “resolution” when you can do it at any time. There is a new day each morning, a new week every seven days and a new month 12 times a year. What makes having a “resolution” at the end or beginning of the year better than doing one each day/week/month?
I already broke what I considered my main financial new year’s resolution:
not to buy individual stocks and only ETFs. I could not help it and bought Apple (I succumbed to the hype surrounding the imminent launch of the tablet).