Moderation Makes for a Good Resolution

Making a bold, life-changing resolution always sounds good on January 1, but is often hard to keep as the year goes on. Goals made just a few days ago, on New Year's Eve, may already feel a little daunting. Sprinkling those promises made to oneself with a little moderation may help bring them down to a manageable size.

Saying "I'm going to lose weight" or "I'm going to get out of debt" are admirable goals. But these big goals may end up being too vague to be achievable. Making slight moderation to one's existing lifestyle can bring about bigger changes in the long run.

Take the goal of losing weight for example. The two important components of losing weight are eating right and exercising. An individual is much more likely to lose weight if they focus on diet and exercise, rather than the actual weight loss. Saying, "I want to be healthier by exercising three days a week" is an achievable goal. The weight loss that comes with a healthier lifestyle is a bonus.

As for eating right, that too can sound a little vague when it comes down to planning meals for the week. A good place to start is keeping track of what you normally eat for a week, then decide on a few things to change. For example, if eating a fast food lunch on the go is part of one's weekly schedule decide to bring a sandwich from home two days a week. Set the goal of doing this for one month and see how it goes. It may turn out that it makes life simpler and provides more energy throughout the day.

Also, check out the Web for meal planning resources or go to the local library to check out healthy cookbooks. The University of Michigan has a great website related to its healthy eating initiative that demonstrates the components of a well-balanced meal at michigantoday.umich.edu/2008/mar/great-plate.php.

Another popular resolution is getting out of debt or saving money. Again, breaking this down a bit will help take it from a goal to a reality. A good place to start is setting January as the month for keeping all receipts and paying attention to where the money goes. At the end of the month really look at what money was spent for the month and why. Then set a budget for the next month, not the whole year. Do this each month, making a once a month goal to keep.

Moderation in spending can go a long way. Depriving one's self doesn't usually work out in the long run, but rather take baby steps to cut back on spending. Going to the library to check out personal finance books can help in developing an individual plan. Sarah Lindner of the Austin-American Stateman suggests the personal finance blog The Simple Dollar (thesimpledollar.com), which is running a series to help break down financial goals into manageable steps.

Whatever the resolution may be, from finances to losing weight to quitting a bad habit, seeking a moderate way to incorporate the goal into daily life is more likely to ensure success. So make a simple, month-by-month plan, tell a few friends and family for support and then see how small steps can lead to big changes this year.

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