Stick To The List

Tips for Making Popular New Year's Resolutions

Advice Seeker: Dear April,

The new year is always an exciting time for me because I like to make a list of resolutions and goals to stick to. I find that making these resolutions really helps me to get motivated and stay on top of things. Do you have any advice on popular resolutions that people make for the new year?

Sincerely,

I Resolve

April Masini's advice:

Dear I Resolve,

Good for you for making resolutions and actually working to stick to them! If you can keep your resolutions, there's no saying how much they can change your life.

Popular resolutions made for New Year's are:

1. I'm going to take better care of myself this year.

2. I won't slack off exercising.

3. I will eat healthy food only. No more junk.

4. I will try to stop cursing.

5. I want to have a better sex life, and I will do my part to contribute to that.

6. I will stop fighting so much with my (husband, sister, neighbor, mother, etc.).

7. I will try to be better at scheduling in down time and family time along with all of our activities.

8. I will try to stop procrastinating.

9. I will stick to my (family) budget.

10. I will tell my husband that getting a birthday (anniversary, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day) present is important to me, and I will let him know what I want, so I don't get disappointed with whatever I get, and I will be responsible for my part in that dynamic.

One of the best New Year's Resolutions anyone can make for this upcoming year is to get their own emotional house in order. The reason that this is the best resolution for so many people is because it's the building block for pretty much everything else.

I have so many readers write me with questions and problems that are really based on the fact that these people haven't gotten their emotional lives in order. They have so much emotional clutter in their lives that they can't possibly be in touch with what it is that they want in a job, a relationship, etc. People would be a lot more content if they would take care of business, clean up the emotional clutter, and THEN see clearly what's keeping them from having what they want.