From my own observations, one of the biggest New Year’s resolutions made are usually have to do with weight loss or becoming more fit.  Its been noted that new new gym memberships spike during the month of January, but attendance usually drops by the end of February.  Why is this?    One problem is some people expect  instant weight loss or fitness results. When you plant a tomato seed, you cant expect to make marinara sauce the next day. Another is, people try to do to much too fast and burn out, then give up.  If you never planted a garden before, a good idea is to start with just a few, easy to grow plans then work your way up to a full garden.  Perhaps, they are not doing the right type of program for their body type and are  frustrated when they don’t see results. If you live in New England, don’t expect to be able to grow bananas. You have to find what you can grow in your region and what time of year you should plant it.

Over the past few years, I have had almost all of my resolutions fulfilled within the year.  The ones that didn’t “work out” were the ones I gave up on before I gave them a real chance.  Some resolutions may take more than a a few months or a year to fulfill so patience along with hard work will eventually get you there.

So how do you fulfill your goals?

First, you have to know what you want.  Do you want to go backpacking in Kashmir because your friends want to do it (or have done it), or because this is what you want to do?  Do you want to start a business because your buddies are working from home now and you’re still doing the 9-5 grind even though you’re happy with it?  Do you want to do something only because your parents expect that of you?

Marelisa’s Abundance Blog offers some really great tips in the article: Start 2009 With a Bang: Create a Life List.  This list will help you get a grasp of what you want and how to get there.

Blogger Newbie lists three steps to getting your goals accomplished in 3 Steps to Achieving Your Goals

Monika at The Writers Manifesto teaches you how to beat procrastination and get things done.

Common New Year’s Resolutions

Finances
Do you have a goal to save X amount of dollars a year or maximize your 401K, but not sure how to afford or even do it? No matter what you financial situation is, Get Rich Slowly blog is a must read that offers a ton of practical advice when it comes to  your money.  Articles such  as Making the Most of Your checking Account and Things Its Cheaper to do Yourself can point you in the right direction.  I can literally spend all-day reading some of the various articles (and comments) here.

Ramit at I Will Teach you to be Rich has a lot of money saving tips for those who are new to tightening their wallets.  Tip #1: Pack lunch for the rest of the week can make a great start for many.

Starting a business
Get Rich Slowly also has great advice on starting a business. The section on entrepreneurship is a must read for anyone contemplating that journey.

Steve at My Wife Quit Her Job runs an online wedding linen store with his wife.  Six figure salary aside, he is open and honest about their day-to-day challenges and rewards.  There is also a great deal of tips on how to start your own (specifically, online) business.

Fitness and weight management
Cranky Fitness offers a lot of good articles on diet and fitness.  Posts such as Why the Weight Loss Plateau?  can help you when you’re feeling stuck before you throw in the towel.

Cool Running’s Couch to 5K is one of the most popular and effective running programs out there.  Couch to 5K program gently guides you off the couch (office chair) and hitting the road to a 5K in a reasonable amount of time.  Remember, the key  is not to do to much to fast.

So the keys to successful fulfillment of your resolutions are knowing what you want and why, having the right tools to cultivate that resolution, and persistence – not giving up.

So what are your goals/resolutions for the coming year?