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.

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.

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.

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.

Get one lifelong dream off the ground
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.

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.

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.

Reduce your material posessions
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.

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.

Break a time-wasting 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.