Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions

ew Year’s resolutions are hard to keep. Whether you resolve to get in shape, save money or find love in 2015, here are a few tips for staying on track. 

Psychologist and life coach, Dr. Amy Johnson, says that when it comes to people constructing their New Year’s resolutions, "The number one factor is making sure you’re making them for things you care about," she says. "People resolve to workout more, or cook more at home, and these are things they believe they should be doing, but they don’t necessarily want to be doing them.

"So when people set resolutions saying, 'I've always wanted to write a book' and they resolve to sit down every night and write a little bit at a time, they’re more likely to do that."

Improving your health and wellness 

Resolving to enhance health and wellness in the new year is a common goal, but one that is not simple to maintain. "People resolve to get in shape but on the first day, they spend two hours at the gym," Johnson says. "People should ease into things. That’s a really big factor. Be reasonable about it. Ease into it if it’s a brand new habit. If you don’t make it to the gym, don’t scrap it and beat yourself up. It’s not about perfection; it’s not an all or nothing."

Developing a fitness regime does not have to be difficult. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises getting at least 60 minutes of "moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week while not exceeding calorie needs," plus apps like Noom Weight Loss Coach and Lose It! make weight loss plus monitoring diet and activity easy.

For those who need help sticking to their pledge to quit smoking, apps like, Quitter or My Last Cigarette, shows quitting's benefits like increases to life expectancy, improved lung function and the amount of money saved by quitting.

CDC also recommends making an appointment in 2015 for a "check-up, vaccination, or screening." You can find free or low-cost medical care clinics via Health Resources and Services Administration's web site.

Building your finances

If you vow to save money or transform your bank account in 2015, the beginning of the year is a great time to get a grip on your finances.

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and The Advertising Council suggest involving your entire family in the budget making process and "stay disciplined" by making budgeting a regular part of life. The groups also offer a financial calculator to help you estimate how long it will take you to reach your 2013 savings goals. 

Personal finance tools like, Mint, or Betterment also allow you to set a budget to reach financial goals and invest in stocks or bonds.

Finding romance in the New Year

Finding love in 2015 or maintaining a healthy relationship may take some effort. If you're already in a relationship, "communication is perhaps the most important key to a strong, healthy relationship," according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Romantic dates allow couples to communicate freely and have fun together. Detroit date ideas include dinner at The Whitney or a couples massage at The Woodhouse Day Spa.

If you're single and looking for love, participating in local social activities may increase your chances of meeting people who share similar interests. Visit Meetup.com to find a local group, or sites like Are you Interested or HowAboutWe.com allows users with similar interests to digitally meet others by flipping through profiles of like-minded singles.