New Year's Resolutions That Will Make You Happy

There’s something about a New Year that makes people think they have to make New Year’s Resolutions. And many of these well-intentioned resolutions, while good at first glance, just set us up for unhappiness. This year, why not make Happiness your New Year's resolution.

Have these New Year's resolutions ever been on your list?

Resolutions That DON'T Make You Happy

• Exercise and get fit
• Drink less
• Be frugal
• Love your enemies
• Do good works
• Eat healthy; Slim down…
• Get rid of clutter

Well, you get the picture. These are all great ideas, but probably ones that will make you pretty cranky in the New Year. Think back to your list of resolutions for last year. Did you keep them? or did you just feel bad when you came across the list in March and realized that your resolve dissolved by the second week in January? Well, I’m here to give you some advice on how to make New Year’s resolutions that will bring you more happiness in the coming year.

Now there are two things about making the New Year’s Resolutions mentioned above that have a built-in misery factor, and that are sure to make you miserable right off the bat.

Number 1: If you actually keep your New Year's resolutions, it will mean that you either have to stop doing things that you enjoy or start doing things you don’t enjoy. Now this is not the road to happiness, is it?

Number 2: If you don’t keep these resolutions, you’ll feel like a failure. Either way, not a good way to spend the coming year! Usually, there are plenty of ways the world can turn to make you feel bad. Keep a positive outlook on life, don't set yourself up for failure. Make resolutions that will make you feel good about yourself.

So here I am to tell you how to start the New Year off right. Forget all thoughts of starvation diets, daily exercise regimens and penny pinching til it hurts. Do you LIKE making yourself miserable? Be kind to yourself and make New Year’s resolutions designed for happiness and New Year’s resolutions that you will keep. Feel virtuous! Bring a smile to your face! Below are some practical New Year’s Resolutions for the coming year.

1. I Will Not Exercise!

When you think you should exercise, lie down until the feeling passes. Don’t buy another exercise video, and for heaven’s sake, don’t waste your money on another membership for the gym! (You do remember the gym fiasco last year, don’t you?) Don’t resolve to exercise, but do get going on some of those fun things you've always wanted to do.

Belly dancing class? Your belly will thank you, and your spouse probably won't mind, either! Take a ballroom dancing class with your significant other? This is not only fun, but romantic. And it's great preparation for that cruise you hope to go on later in the year.

How about finally going with your friend to a line dancing class? O.k., it sounds a little hokey, but it will be great fun to do together. And if you accidentally get some exercise when you do these things well, that’s life .

You might also get some accidental exercise by doing a few laps around the mall with your friend before treating yourself to a manicure or a cappuccino. Hey, if you can’t help exercising, you can’t help it!

2. I Will Not Go On a Diet!

You know it’s been proved that dieting was probably invented by a sadistic skinny person who can eat 3000 calories a day and never gain an ounce. There is something twisted about depriving yourself of something you really love so that you look better for people you don’t care about.

Think about all those diets you’ve tried. Did they make you happy? Did you get a warm fuzzy feeling from watching your friends eat cake and ice cream while you had celery sticks and diet ginger ale? Think about it. Have a snack, it helps you think. And if that snack turns out to be an apple before dinner, and you eat less, well, that’s OK. In fact, have an apple right now.

The best way not to diet is to eat when you are hungry. So have some fresh fruit with yogurt. Or be really sinful and have some rice cakes with peanut butter. The snack will help you not think about diets. And maybe you’ll still lose weight. (Take that, you skinny sadist!) Be happy!

3. I Will Splurge On Myself!

You’ve heard the expression, “You can’t take it with you.” Well, even if you could, how would that help you now? You want happiness NOW, so splurge on yourself once in a while. It doesn’t have to be a costly splurge to make yourself feel good.

Buy yourself a fresh flower for your desk or your dining room table. It will remind you, and say to the world, that you are special. (As an added bonus, don't tell anyone you bought it for yourself. Your co-workers will be so jealous if they think that a secret admirer sent you flowers for no reason. How fun is that?)

You can be frugal in your grocery shopping and your clothes shopping. You can cut coupons and mail in rebates to save money. But resolve not to be frugal when it comes to doing some little special thing to make yourself feel good. Bring on the happiness!

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So if inspiration strikes you, and you get the urge to make a list of New Year's Resolutions, think twice about what goes on that list. Make only New Year’s Resolutions that will make you feel good about yourself and that will bring you satisfaction and happiness in the coming year!

Best wishes for New Year's Resolutions that make you happy and for a very Happy New Year!