New Year’s Resolutions for a Simpler Life

A new year, new goals, a new start. What better time to make some New Year’s resolutions for a simpler life for you and your family?

Simplifying your life can be as easy as reducing some of your stress. Make this the year you slow down and find enjoyment in the simple pleasures of life. You won’t be making fewer accomplishments; you’ll be achieving the best goal of all – a better life.

Don’t let your New Year’s resolutions backfire on you. Make your resolutions realistic and simple. Setting grandiose goals and overambitious resolutions may become too difficult and cause you more guilt and stress.

The most successful New Year’s resolutions are small, simple, and realistic. Just pick one small improvement to make in each area of your life that you want to impact.

1. Take Control of Your Finances.

Start a plan to pay off your credit cards. Get rid of as many interest-charging bills as you can. Take a good hard look at your household budget and see where you can cut back. Living better within your means removes a major source of stress from your life.

MsMoney.com suggests scaling back and bargain shopping – with an occasional splurge – when spending money at department stores, salons, and restaurants.

2. Find Something to Laugh at Every Day.

Laughter has measurable effects on our physical and mental health. Laughing relaxes tense muscles, sends more oxygen into your system, lowers your blood pressure, and provides relief from pain.

Laughing also has a profound effect on stress levels. According to the Humor Therapy Infocenter on Holistic-online.com, in difficult, tense situations even a forced laugh can help.

“One trick for finding humor in the worst of situations is to blow things absolutely, ridiculously out of proportion. When your scenario reaches the point of absurdity, you begin to smile. The situation is put in perspective. Now you can calm down.”

This year, rent more comedies, buy a book by your favorite humorist, or visit some local comedy clubs. Take time every single day to laugh.

3. Think of One Lifelong Dream You'll Get Off the Ground This Year.

Always wished you could sing? Take six months of voice lessons. Admire the beauty and grace of ice skaters? Sign up for skating lessons.

Start training for a marathon a year from now. Buy a pair of red heels. Color your hair. Or stop coloring and let your gray come back.

4. Do Something Nice Every Day.

Befriend the office crab. Resist the urge to join in gossip. Take the small pork chop. Pick up the tab. Move the neighbor’s garbage can that’s fallen into the street.

Doing even one small good deed will make a positive difference in your day.

5. Become More Environmentally Active.

If you don’t already recycle, start. Buy food with less packaging. Start composting. Write a letter to your congressman on one local environmental issue.

Reduce your drive time by walking more and planning your trips out of the house.

6. Simplify Your Material Possessions.

Get rid of things you don’t use. If your house is cluttered, it’s most likely filled with things you don’t need or use.

In your home’s storage areas, keep a minimum of memorabilia and household items you may need for the future, and donate the rest. De-clutter all the rooms in your house that you spend the most time in. Cutting back on the sentimental things you save has a side benefit: You’ll be able to find the really special things when you want them.

Web MD says too much clutter in our homes causes an overstressed lifestyle that can lead to high blood pressure, insomnia, and low resistance.

7. Do One Good Thing For Your Health.

Drink more water, start exercising, stop drinking soda, quit smoking, eat more raw vegetables, eat more fruit, or eliminate the “white foods” from your diet – replacing white rice with brown or wild rice, white potatoes with sweet potatoes, white bread with wheat, and white pasta with whole wheat pasta. Pick one and stick to it all year. Pick another one next year.

The top New Year’s Resolution recommendation of Chris Adams, About.com’s Ergonomics guide, is to exercise.

“Exercise 30-60 minutes three times a week,” he says. “It is simple yet effective and you will thank yourself for sticking with this resolution.”

8. Break One Time-Wasting Habit and Set One Time-Saving Habit.

Not having enough time is a source of much of the stress and complication in our lives. Keep a log of how you spend a typical week. The totals may surprise you. Are you spending too much time watching TV? Too much time online? Set some limits and stick to them.

Then learn some time-saving techniques and choose one to start this year.

According to Cleaning and Stain Removal for Dummies if you’re taking too long to clean your house, there are time-saving techniques you can implement.

“Play beat-the-clock to cut the time you spend on each room. Most people work faster when they're aware of the time. Set a portable kitchen timer for six minutes as you enter the bedroom. When it rings, you're done. If you're the competitive type, next time set it for five minutes and see if you can achieve the same results. Using a timer has the dual benefit of reinforcing in your mind how quick cleaning can be - a spare five minutes really does count!”