How to keep your toughest resolutions

 It is a new semester and a new year, and whether students welcomed 2009 at a family gathering or at a raging New Year’s Eve bash crooning with friends to “Auld Lang Syne,” one thing is certain – resolutions were made.

Making resolutions is easy, but keeping them is an entirely different dilemma.

It is commonly overheard among friends, family and perhaps we may have uttered the familiar words “I am going to do it for real this year.”

However, as the months pass by, so does our motivation and willpower to make our resolutions a reality.

According to msnbc.com, the top three resolutions commonly made are to quit smoking, lose weight and to become debt free.  For some students the goal may be to study harder, focus more on their class work or not ask their parents for extra cash come midsemester. For others, no resolutions are made because of the fear of failure and not being able to see them through to fruition.

Here are some tips on how to make realistic resolutions and how to keep them.

Smoking is first on the New Years resolution list with good reason. We are well aware of the dangers associated with cigarettes and the detriment they have on our health. It is a personal choice to smoke and to quit, but there are ways that it can be done without pushing you to crawl up walls while pulling your hair out. 

If you want to quit smoking, there are many tools at your disposal.

For those brave enough to quit cold turkey, there is a popular book among ex-smokers titled “The Easy Way to Quit Smoking” by Allen Carr. The book, written by a man who almost let the addiction kill him, is compelling, non-preachy and asks you to use your mind to overcome addiction.

If reading is not your thing, try the gum or patch you have been eyeing for years at drug store counters.

The Web site smokefree.gov offers lists of resources, counseling phone numbers and online guides that are created by experts to assist in efforts to quit. Most of these services are free of charge.

Smoking is costly, but quitting is free.

Weight loss is another one of the top resolutions for most people heading into a new year and it is never an easy one to keep. In American culture, fast food tends to be a lot more accessible than a salad bar. 

Whether students live in the dorms or off campus, rushing to and from classes at all hours of the day and then trudging off to work afterward, it’s hard to add exercise to the list.

Exercise can be fun and easy to make into a habit that you will never have to resolve to break. 

It is suggested that everyone spend at least 30 minutes a day doing cardio exercise. If getting a gym membership is out of your price range, try a different approach, like a walk. According to www.mayoclinic.com, walking is the body’s most natural form of exercise and can lead to higher levels of physical activity.

Start by parking farther from campus and maybe get a friend to be your workout buddy.

Picking up a set of five to eight pound weights and carrying them while you walk will increase your cardio benefits and keep the work out simple yet beneficial.

In addition, UNLV offers many fun fitness classes including rock climbing and different forms of dance.  Also, check out the free services and classes at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center for convenient and economical solutions.

These tips, and maintaining a sensible diet, will lead those looking to lose weight on a path to slimmer waistlines.

Being debt free is a daunting task, especially with an economy where tuition is on the rise, less jobs are available and skyrocketing costs of living wrack students’ minds.

Saving money may not be the key to a debt free life, but making small changes in what we choose to do with our money can make all the difference.

Start accomplishing this resolution by “brown bagging” it.

Students eat out because it’s fast, easy and convenient. With a little preparation the night before, why not load up on fresh groceries, fruits and veggies to take with us through the day, rather than paying for lunch every day? 

The cost of groceries may seem like a lot to shell out when it comes to student budgets, but buying a weeks worth of groceries may add up to three or four nights of eating out.  More than likely, you will be making much healthier choices for yourself as well.

Driving less and opting to walk or ride your bike twice a week can really fatten up your wallet quickly.

Limit the party funds to every other weekend rather than going out with friends every Friday and Saturday night.

Shop around for a lower auto insurance quote or maybe forgo the name brand clothes and opt for a vintage look; have a clothes swapping party with your girlfriends or hold a dorm or garage sale.

With these simple suggestions, keeping resolutions in 2009 shouldn’t be an impossible task.