New Year Resolutions

Quit your old habits using the 12 Step Progam!

Ganesh — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:45:48 +0000

The new year is approaching fast and each one of us wants to take some resolutions that would help us improve our everyday life. Let’s face it, we all have some old habits that we want to quit, but can’t do it easily. Many people have some sort of addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. There is no better time than the New Year to quit these old habits once and for all.

There are ways to quit addiction. One of them is the “Twelve Step program“. A twelve-step program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems. The twelve steps were originally developed by a group called Alcoholics Anonymous in 1939.

Other groups who have adopted the 12 steps to address their own particular addictive or dysfunctional behavior have similar ideas with some variations. Over 200 self-help organizations–often known as fellowships–with a worldwide membership of millions, now employ twelve-step principles for recovery. Narcotics Anonymous was formed by addicts who did not relate to the specifics of alcohol dependency. Behavioral issues such as compulsion for, and/or addiction to, gambling, food, sex, hoarding, debting and work are addressed in other similar fellowships.

These are the original Twelve Steps as published by Alcoholics Anonymous:

THE TWELVE STEPS

OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.

Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

If you want to know more about the 12 Step program, and its variants, please visit this website - 12Step.org.

Now, you know that you won’t go wrong by making a resolution that you will try out the 12-Step program. There are many such organizations that offer help and advice. Don’t be afraid to make the effort to change.

Take care and stay well!

New Year Resolutions for Kids

Ganesh — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:13:37 +0000

With the joy of Christmas we welcome New Year with some new hope and aspirations. This is the right time to manipulate all our mistakes of last year and keep up new resolutions to rectify them all. Setting up goals and working hard to achieve them is a very important skill which everyone should develop. New Year is the right time to teach your child on how to set their goals by keeping up New Year resolutions. From this tender age if they learn to work on their goals, they would definitely climb up the ladder of success. As children are not that mature to set some high goals for their New Year, hence you should help them with keeping their New Year resolutions. You should start with some good habits that your child would learn while keeping up with the resolution.

Teach your child to practice good hygiene throughout year. Brushing teeth every night before going to bed, washing hands before having meal, taking regular bath, keeping nails clear, using hanky before coughing or sneezing are some of good hygiene which you may ask your child to set as New Year resolution.

Eating healthier diet is the most important factor which should be counted in New Year resolution for your child. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables while keeping away from too much of chocolate, drinking milk regularly, having breakfast on time are some of the healthier food habits which your child should develop in this New Year. Few children have the habit to eat faster without even properly chewing the food. Hence you must also teach them to chew their food properly before swallowing.

This is the world of computer and internet, anyone can get addicted to its wrong side. Hence you must ask your child to limit their use of internet this year and never disclose any personal information or open any forbidden sites in their absence. While making them aware of bad aspects of internet, you will help them understand their responsibilities.

Teach your child to be helpful and generous to others. Ask them that with this New Year they would help poor children by giving their old clothes and toys. They will go to church and pray to god regularly for the well being of humanity. Likewise they will learn to volunteer things with their own perception.

Decency in behavior of child is very essential; hence your child should make it a New Year resolution to behave politely with their elders, fellow mates, teachers and parents. They will learn using words like thank you, sorry, excuse me, mention not etc. This way their attitude and behavior would develop.

Education is the prime factor of consideration; hence your child may also keep it a New Year resolution to perform well in school. They will finish their homework on time and arrange their schoolbags properly. Follow their teachers and obey them so as to achieve good marks in examinations.

Want to read more on new year resolutions? Here are some related articles:

New Year Resolutions For Teens

Ganesh — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:11:57 +0000

Month of December is the high time for teenagers all across the world to set their New Year resolution. Being immature and curious about new things, teenagers often fall victim to some bad habits like excessive smoking, drinking, drug addiction, falling into criminal acts etc. Hence, New Year eve is the right time to start a fresh with some new perspective of life. Now it’s time to do some good to you, your family and your society. Teen obesity, teen pregnancy, suicide rates, criminal offense are growing at its leaps and bounce. Owing to the present scenario, its duty of every teenager to make some vital New Year resolution and bring this world a healthy future.

The first and foremost duty of teenagers is to take good care of their health and fitness. Every day the world is getting more and more populated, with this if you even keep following unhealthy life style then it is for sure that your life would end tragically. Hence, follow a healthy fitness regime and feel its benefits. While following a healthy life style, you will feel more energetic and juvenile. Your will have glowing skin and impressive personality that itself will reflect your charm and attributes. Your academic performance will improve and consequently you will have a bright career ahead. Your parents, relatives and even friends would be happy about you.

Give some time in thinking about the major world issues. Be a volunteer and raise your voice against any unjustified acts around the world. In this world of nuclear weapon, war among nations is the major threat to humanity. Hence be active participants and join hands to spread peace and happiness around the world. You can start your petition, launch your blog or organize rally to fight against terrorism.

Drugs, alcohols and cigarettes have always been darker side of teenagers all across the globe. Just look at the consequences of these bad habits and trouble you went through during last year due to such addictions. Your inner self will never allow you to repeat the same activity again in this New Year. Although it’s difficult to get rid of such addictions, but with your firm determination you could set your New Year resolution and say no to all those narcotics.

Who does not want to have a well settled career, but for that you need to study hard and perform well at your school and college level. Sometimes it seems little uninteresting to keep struggling with the books but with a perfect schedule you will never feel bore. Make a time table where you must have ample of time for recreation and outing. Rest of the time should be devoted to studies. By following such a schedule, slowly you will develop more and more interest towards studies and your academic performance will also improve drastically.

If you are committed to someone, but always fall in dispute with him/her then you keep your New Year resolution to maintain a happy love life ahead. Just think wisely about every likings of your partner and try to come up with each others’ expectations. Be ready to sacrifice for your partner, this way you will be able regain that same intense feeling of love for each other.

Want to read more on new year resolutions? Here are some related articles:

Tips On Keeping Your New Year Resolutions

Ganesh — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:07:28 +0000

With the arrival of New Year, you must have set few goals and objectives as New Year resolution. This is the high time when you could make firm determination in your mind to achieve something which you failed to achieve during last year. By keeping such New Year resolutions you will be initiating your new year with a new zeal to achieve your prospective. Hence, by keeping apart all your failures and bad incidents of last year you should get yourself prepared for New Year.

Setting your New Year resolution needs some well deserved time to relax your mind and think about every aspects of your life. Before you set your objectives you should first count all your failures and their reasons during last few years. Once you come with a conclusion on how you could rectify those mistakes, you are ready to set your new goals. By judging your caliber and will power you should set your New Year resolutions. Never set such objectives that are almost impossible to achieve, else you will feel it a burden while trying to achieve. Always remember that your New Year resolution is going to be a vital decision of your life and hence never take it lightly.

Setting up your goals and keeping them alive throughout the year are two very different perspectives. There should be no space for any kind of probability if you really want to achieve your New Year resolution. Being totally optimistic, you should try hard and harder throughout the year, until you achieve your goals.

Strong motivation and consistent effort is needed to achieve your resolutions. If you have decided to lose your weight and get a fit body during this New Year then you must keep it in top on the “to do” list of your daily schedule. Keep motivating yourself while working hard and whenever you find any improvement, reward yourself for keeping up with your New Year resolution.

New Year resolution needs year long consistent effort and can’t be achieved in fortnight. Hence you should make all realistic resolutions and accordingly set your goals to achieve them. Do not be impatient while struggling to achieve your prospective. An easy way to go through with your resolution is to subdivide it in to various segments. Give certain time limit to each of the segment and duly work on them. Breaking your objectives into manageable parts would relieve you from extra pressure and also help you manage your effort properly.

One another way to deal with your resolution is to keep a track record of all your objectives and ways to achieve them. Jot down the titles of your resolutions on a paper and fix it on the wall just in front of your bed. While waking up in the morning from your bed, just have a look on those titles and start your day. This way you can keep alive your new year resolutions.

Want to read more on new year resolutions? Here are some related articles:

How to Plan Your New Year Resolutions

Ganesh — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 14:02:37 +0000

Like every year, this time also you might have some plans for your New Year resolutions, isn’t it? Like past few years, you won’t like your resolutions to last for couples of days or weeks. Therefore, you need to have some full proof plans so as to keep up with your resolutions throughout the year. While setting up your plans for New Year resolutions, you should be determined to stick to your plans, no matter what so happens. With this firm determination in your mind, you are ready to plan for your success this New Year.

Start with plenty of time in your hand and pen paper with you. Think about all the good and bad aspects of last year and accordingly set your goals. Take out conclusion from all your success and feel the improvements that you made through them. By looking at your failure, manipulate your week points and note them down on a paper. Here from you will get your inspiration to set your plans for New Year resolutions.

You need to think of every aspects of your life, whether it’s about your own life, your family, your health, job or anything as such. Just take a hard look on all these areas of your life and make a comparison on where you wanted them to be and where they are. The areas on which you feel you have severely failed, try to focus on that particular field and keep your New Year resolutions to improve yourself particularly in that field only. Make plans on how to improve on those areas and achieve success.

If you have had unpleasant time with your family members last year, then make up your mind to devote some well deserve time to your family. Take them out in weekends; go to movies, coffee shop, shopping, fun and amusement parks etc. You will never feel it to be so difficult being so nice with your family. Your spouse will love to be with you and children will obey your instructions. Everything will be just the way you ever desired.

If you feel you couldn’t achieve a successful career growth during last year then you might have gone mismanaging your time. Growth of career completely depends on your skill and a perfect time management. Hence, make up your mind to improve your skills in every concerned field and break your objectives into fragments so as to achieve them with ease.

If you are a chain smoker or addicted drunker then just think of the losses that your addiction has made to your life during last year. Once you realize the consequences of these bad habits, you won’t think of continuing it again. Although it’s difficult to quit such addiction instantly but with the support of your family and proper detoxification you would surely get rid of your addiction.

Want to read more on new year resolutions? Here are some related articles:

Most Common New Year Resolutions

Ganesh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:53:03 +0000

The end of the year has always been the time for looking back at the past and thinking over what we have done during those 12 months. Everyone is looking forward to the the new year. Everyone takes resolutions that they hope to follow through the coming year. What are the most common resolutions taken by people? Do you want to know?

Here are the most common new year resolutions taken by people.

Spend more time for family and friends - This is the most common new year resolution taken by over 50% Americans.A recently taken survey shows that most people take a resolution to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year. Make plans to meet up with old friends at some restaurant and have a great time enjoying being with your friends. Or take your family out to some amusement park. Nothing like a picnic can bring joy and happiness in the family!
Become Fit - Becoming fit is the watchword among the people now. Why not spend some time for your body? Try to do some exercise to keep your body healthy. You don’t have to spend hours everyday working out, experts recommend doing three 20 minute sessions of exercise per week for those starting out.
Cut down the Extra Fat - Over 63% of Americans are found to be obese according to research studies. Are you obese? Why not try to cut down that extra pound of fat? Try doing some exercise, go to the local gymnasium to shed some weight and avoid eating too much junk food. Setting a reasonable goal and staying focused are the most important factors in losing weight, and the key to success for millions of Americans who made a New Year’s commitment to shed extra pounds.
Quit Smoking - If you have resolved to stop your smoking habit, then there are a variety of free support services, hotlines and smoking cessation classes to help you kick it out. Even if you’ve tried to quit before and failed, don’t let it get you down. On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good. Start enjoying your life, smoke-free!
Quit Alcohol - Have you decided to stop drinking? If you are having trouble trying to quit alcohol, then there is a host of help and support available to you. Most probably, there might be a local Alcoholics Anonymous group in your area. Try to get in touch with them. There are also a number of treatment-based programs, as well as support groups for families of alcoholics. Remember, you can quit drinking. So don’t lose hope.
Get out of debt - The recent economic crisis hit everyone hard. Most of us are struggling to get out of debt. If you are in debt, then try to get out of it. Stop using credit cards unnecessarily because they charge a lot of interest (about 3% per month). Promise yourself not to use them except in case of emergencies. Try to cut down on expenditure. Make sure you save some money regularly. You don’t have to be completely stingy, just try to save a small amount regularly.
Learn something new - The saying goes “Known is a drop, Unknown is an Ocean”. Admit it, we all know only a drop. Why not try to learn something new? Like trying to learn a new language, or taking a course in some skill or reading a new good book? It’ll be worth the time you put into it. And you might find yourself enjoying the experience.
Become more organized - You’d find it on top of every new year resolutions list. Its very important too. Try to keep a daily planner or if you spend a lot of time with computers try to get a calendar software. Try to find out where you are spending more time and where you are wasting time. You can stop doing things which eat away time and become more productive. There are many tools available to keep track of your time. Google Calendar is a very useful free tool.
Help others - Helping others will give you joy and satisfaction. Volunteer for some activity this year. Why not help your local library, or spend time mentoring a child or donate something to charity? There are a lot of non-profit organizations working for good things. You can show your support by donating a little to them. For example, it will give you a deep sense of happiness if you donate some money to an orphaned child. It doesn’t always have to be big. Remember “Charity begins at home”? Why not help your family members by taking the time to clean your house or help the neighbor. Helping others will give both yourself and others a great feeling of happiness.
Enjoy life more - We all have a hectic lifestyle. What will be the meaning of life if you don’t enjoy it? Do something new and enjoyable. Read a good book, or take up a hobby, or go skiing. Remember, it is your life. You should enjoy it.
Go green - Because of scarcity, the price of energy sources are sky-rocketing. Instead of paying money to your power company, why don’t you install a few solar panels or a wind turbine at your home? These alternative energy solutions are easy to switch to. There are plenty of DIY (Do-It-Yourself) guides available on the internet which you can refer to (use Google to search for them). This way, you can show mercy to both your wallet and the environment.

By now, I hope you are fairly certain what your new year resolutions are going to be. Do make yourself some good resolutions and follow them. A happy new year to all of you.

Want to read more on new year resolutions? Here are some related articles: