Financial Education

Chances are…there were points in your life were you made New Year’s resolutions – only to break them!  You're not alone, according to University of Scranton only 8% of people who make a New Years Resolution achieve their goal.

How about you make a New Years resolution this year, not to break your New Year’s resolution! Whether you decide to diet, eat healthier, workout more, save money, learn to cook, spend more time with the kids or my favorite…make more “me” time every day; I‘ve put together a couple of tips to help get you into the 8% this year

Be Realistic:  Many people make the mistake of setting a goal that is unattainable, such as omitting your favorite food.  You want to be realistic and pick an attainable goal within a reasonable time frame, such as avoiding your favorite food more often then you currently do.  It is also important that you don’t make too many resolutions, as you can loose your focus and get overwhelmed very quickly. 

Choose something you really want:  Make sure your goal is something you want to achieve for yourself and not just for family and friends.  The more determined you are to make the change; the stronger your commitment to your goal will be.

Write it down:  Don’t wait till New Year’s Eve to make your resolution, plan ahead and outline your plan of action.  Once you know what your overall goal is, write it down and make an outline of how you are going to accomplish your goal in a certain time frame.  Be sure to set small goals along the way to give yourself a sense of accomplishment and motivation to keep going.  Also, decide how you are going to deal with temptations that may get you off track.

Buddy Up:  If you have a friend or family member looking to achieve the same goal that you are, then buddy up and help each other stick to the plan.  If your goal is to workout more, have a specific day and time to meet up at the gym to workout together.  You can also have weekly check-ins and report to each other what you accomplished.  This will keep you focused.

Talk About It: Don’t keep your goal a secret.  Tell your family and friends about what you plan to do and update them throughout the process, they can support your efforts and motivate to you keep going when the times get tough.  Also when you talk about your goal and how far you have come to reach it with others that will just motivate you to stick to your plan.

Track Your Progress:  Make sure to keep track of each small success.  Achieving your short-term goals will help keep you motivated to reach your overall goal.  Instead of trying to loose 40 pounds, focus on losing the first 5.  Make sure to keep a journal on what you did that day to reach your goal and what mistakes you made that may have gotten you off track.  Review your initial plan and make adjustments if needed.

Congratulate Yourself:  Celebrate little successes by treating yourself to something you enjoy and doesn’t contradict your resolution.  For example, if your goal has been to eat healthier, reward yourself by going out to movie or buying a new workout outfit.

Be sure to share any suggestions that have worked for you in the past in the comment section below.  Good luck in making and achieving your New Year’s Resolution.  Remember to take it one step at a time and do the best you can to reach that goal. Personally, I’m not taking bets on my ability to create more “me” time, but at least I’ll have a plan!