We are never too old for New Year’s resolutions. As each year ends, points for improvements in our lives often cross our minds. Sometimes, without making an official promise, we set goals with hopes of accomplishing them in the coming year.

As they often say, “promises are made to be broken.” This list of the most common New Year’s resolutions people make but fail to achieve confirms this old saying. The first half of the list includes things people opt to accomplish, while the last five are the practices they would rather stop doing.

10. “I will slim down from 150 to 120 pounds.”

Both ladies and gentlemen often plan to lose weight in order to feel more confident and healthier. Gone are the days when “fuller” bodies were more appreciated and deemed healthier. The real definition of physical fitness today involves well-toned body and muscles. Losing weight also requires a more active lifestyle, like participation in sport events. Unfortunately though, many can’t fight the urge for sweets and fatty foods. Stressful workloads also deter most people from being physically active during their free time. (For more tips on slimming down, read the Top Ten ways to effectively lose weight)

9. “My money in the bank will grow exponentially.”

Saving more money in your pocket usually requires two things. First, you need to know how to control your expenses and how to cut unnecessary things from your budget. Also, finding a new source of income can provide you with extra cash. The real challenge here is learning to give up life’s simple pleasures, like eating in fancy restaurants and drinking gourmet coffee. Most full-time workers find it necessary to find a sideline source of income to manage to make both ends meet.

8. “I’ll be more organized, starting with my room.”

Perhaps an obsessive-compulsive disorder is one of the illnesses that you would like to have so that you will become extra neat and ultra organized. Not all people are comfortable living and working in a place that appears ransacked. Often, they get the urge to clean up their rooms, office desks, and other personal spaces, but they can’t find the chance to do so. When they finally get them in order, things will begin to return to the way they were in a matter of days. Maintaining cleanliness and orderliness is an altogether different and challenging task. (Learn how to get rid of clutter)

7. “I’ll exhibit the people person that I really am.”

To be a “people person” is a big goal to strive for, especially if it means you will try to be nicer to the people around you. It involves being especially good at interacting with other individuals, being an instinctive communicator, and allowing yourself to easily establish rapport with other people. Maybe from January to March you will be able to keep up with your newly reformed image. In the latter part of the year though, your true colors will likely start showing themselves anew, and you’ll realize there’s no point in pretending.

6. “I will learn new things in the coming year.”

If there’s one common longing of most people, it is the thirst for knowledge that never seems to be quenched over time. We constantly want to be on par with new technology or experience things we’ve never had the guts to try before. Even the pure longing to be able to weave for women or play basketball falls under this resolution. The most common hindrance to fully achieving this goal is losing interest before you even begin to understand what something is all about.

Now here goes the other half of the top ten list, which includes the things you really want stop doing but you can’t flush out of your system.

5. “I’ll stop watching The Simpsons.”

Most people are aware that they need to give up their addiction to TV shows. They somehow enjoy failing in keeping this promise they made to themselves. Some of the characters on TV shows have become regular members of our household and we feel so attached to them that we miss their presence when the TV is off. We are often aware that we are giving up a significant portion of our precious time while watching TV, but we don’t care because we need to relax.

4. “I will give up playing online scrabble while at work.”

You know that playing online games is counterproductive to work, but you play them once in a while to unwind a little. In the long run, this recreation becomes your main activity in the office and hinders you from meeting your goals. As much as you want to stop after New Year, you can’t. You’re already hooked and your playmates in online scrabble are pressuring you to make your move so they can make theirs. While they place their tiles on the virtual board, you also try to come up with words to hit the triple-word score.

3. “I’ll cease betting on the lottery.”

It can be really hard to stop gambling once you have started betting on your lucky numbers. You become afraid that once you stop betting, your numbers will suddenly be the winning combination. At first, you will get a taste of how it feels like to win. In the latter parts, though, you will long for that similar experience despite frequent hits of bad luck.

2. “I’ll never be late again.”

The perennial problem of the majority of the world’s workforce lands in our second highest spot. The statement that you’ll never be late again is a palace in the sky. A more believable promise that many can easily fulfill is minimizing tardiness and absences. What if the inevitable strikes and you get sick when you wake up? What if the main road that’s never had heavy traffic suddenly becomes clogged with vehicles? You have to give yourself a break sometimes.

1. “I will quit drinking and smoking.”

One simple fact is that cigarettes and alcohol have addictive components in them that make it hard for people to stop consuming them. Even if your case is not that severe (which is likely true since you’re still sane enough to make this your New Year’s resolution), being with your peers who haven’t quit these activities is a real test of determination. Perhaps you’re too old for peer pressure, but there are other things that could cause your relapse, not just the crowd around you. (More information on how to quit drinking)

The usual difficulty met by people who make New Year’s resolutions is not setting an objective that is too far-fetched to begin with. Most people aim to achieve ordinary things, but they find themselves unsuccessful in the end due to sheer lack of determination.

 

* It’s easy to make New Year’s resolutions, but it’s very difficult to keep them. If yours are included among the ones listed here, and you badly want to stick to them, don’t fret: here are some tips you might find helpful, so you can stick to your New Year’s resolutions.