Top new year resolutions

January 1, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

Here are some of the top promises Americans vow to follow each year:

1. Lose Weight, Get in Better Physical Shape: Physical activity builds physical vitality. With every year of your life, you have more to gain from being physically active; as your age-related risks of chronic disease increase, regular exercise generally slows or reverses that trend.

2. Stick to a Budget: It’s been said that the best defense is a good offense. Developing and sticking to a realistic budget is a brilliant offensive move as it prevents overspending and ensures peace of mind.

3. Debt Reduction: Make a resolution now to stop charging anything and to get financially stable. If you can’t pay cash for it, you don’t need it; make it just that simple, and you will find yourself out of debt in no time at all. Keep a diary of all money spent, whether it is by cash, check, credit card, etc.

4. Enjoy More Quality Time with Family & Friends: More and more people are resolving to spend more quality time with family and friends this year. This means you must consciously decide to actively and purposely work on improving your family situation every day.

5. Find My Soul Mate: Romance is alive and well as more and more people are looking for that special someone, their soul mate who lights their fire, the ONE whom they love unequivocally and who shares their world view.

6. Quit Smoking: The benefits to your health, relationships, finances, vitality, the environment and to your sense of self-esteem for having conquered a really hard-to-kick habit will make any and all of your efforts and determination more than worthwhile.

7. Find a Better Job: A new year provides a sense of getting a free do-over, so you can try again and get it right. Many people resolve to find better jobs or to take a new approach to the jobs they’ve already got.

8. Learn Something New: Perhaps you are considering a career change, want to learn a new language or musical instrument, or just how to become a better cook? Whether you take a course or read a book, you’ll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivating and beneficial resolutions to keep.

9. Volunteer and Help Others: A popular, nonselfish New Year’s resolution, volunteerism can take many forms such as spending time helping out at your local library, mentoring a child, or building a house, to name a few.

10. Get Organized: Resolve this year to plan your days, reduce interruptions, clean off your desk, say “No”, and make detailed lists.

Source: http://www.10millionresolutions.com/top-ten-resolutions.html