“I never really make solid resolutions. I think if there’s something one needs to change with oneself, it doesn’t have to happen in the New Year.” – Brittany Murphy

It’s a new year and a new you, or is it? Per U.S. News, New Year’s resolutions start off with honest intentions. When February comes, 80 percent of those who make a New Year’s resolution fail. How can we establish a New Year’s resolution and stick with it? I have some suggestions that may be of help.

1. So, you want to go on a diet?

Image credit: Sandeep Handa / Pixabay.

Instead of reworking your whole diet all at once, change one eating habit at a time. Start with a piece of “bad” food you eat little of and substitute it for the healthy version. In 30 days, pick another piece of “bad” food and substitute it for a healthy version. Continue the trend; it is slow, but it may work.

2. With diet comes exercise.

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Why spend all your money on a gym membership when you do not use it? Per Statista, gym membership has gone up from 32.8 million in 2000 to 57.25 million in 2016. But…per NPR, gyms make their money off of memberships from people who will not show up. If everyone who has a membership to a gym showed up to work out, there would be no room for anyone.

There are alternatives to gym memberships. You can search through YouTube for free workout videos. Depending on the weather, use the outdoors.  Go for a walk around the block and build up from there. Before the kids get to the park, use the park equipment for a small workout. You can use the ladder on a slide to climb up and down… make sure you slide down one time, for fun. Plus, you can use the stairs at work instead of an elevator. Go to the mall or a grocery store and walk around. I saw this many times in the early hours when I worked at a grocery store.

One thing to remember, consult your physician before beginning any exercise program.

3. Want to save money?

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Number two will help you save money. But, why do you want to save? Set the reason why you are saving money first, then make a plan. Remember, don’t put yourself in a bind. Pay your bills first and make sure you have food on the table.

One plan you can use is to cut out the unnecessary expenses in your life. Eat at home, instead of going out all the time. Buy the clothes you need instead of the clothes you want. Wait for the movies to hit your streaming service instead of going to the movies all the time. Make going to the movies a special thing and not just to be going. The movie, popcorn, and soda are cheaper at home than at the theater. Most of all, stop trying to one-up the Jones’.

If you want to save money, just to save money, then start a savings account. If you direct deposit, have a certain amount from your paycheck go into the savings account. Once you get to a certain amount, ask your bank about using some of your savings for a CD or other investments. By the time you are ready to retire, or something bad happens to you, you will have the money to help you.

4. Learning something new.

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Learning something new helps expand your world. You meet new people and discover things about yourself you didn’t know. Learning something new can be intertwined with the exercising resolution. Take walking: once you are ready, you can start hiking. Many places have hiking clubs where you get together and hike through parks. You get fit, meet new people and take in the scenery all at once.

Speaking of parks, you can take up wildlife observation and join a local chapter.

Learn a musical instrument, or relearn a musical instrument you played in school. You can learn to read music and to play an instrument. Once you improved, you can try out for the community band.

Another thing you can learn is sewing. At first it costs money, but in the long run, you would be saving money by making your own clothes and other items. You can also make this into a family event. If you have a family member who is an expert on sewing, have them teach you. It will make a great bonding experience. And yes, men can sew too.

You can take a class at your local community college, such as photography or automotive repair. Maybe a new verbal language or sign language.

5. Change yourself.

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We have diet and exercise which is mainly external with some internal effects. But, this change in yourself is internal. It is geared towards behavior and self-improvements of the inner you.

You need to take some time for yourself every day. You may not be able to start that way at first, but the goal is to get there.  Start off with five minutes a day and build from there. Use your time at work. Use bathroom and lunch breaks for some “me time.” You can do breathing exercises or take a walk to help clear your mind. Look in the mirror and say a positive affirmation anytime you need too.

Try not to be judgmental of other people because they don’t live up to your standards. Try putting yourself in their shoes, look through their eyes.

Donate your time to an animal shelter or homeless shelter. Get to know how animals effect humans and the world. Get to know those are homeless, find out their stories. You may realize the reason why they are homeless is not that they want to be homeless, but that they don’t have a choice. Volunteer at the hospital or a nursing home. Get to know the people, you might be surprised to “learn something new” from them.

Before you watch a television show or a movie based on/inspired by a book, read the book first. Reading books can help expand your vocabulary. Reading can stimulate your mind, help reduce your stress and improve your memory.

Now you read some of my ideas about the New Year, what are yours?