It’s the last day of 2011 and you haven’t quite decided on a solid resolution. Sure, there are things you would like to change about yourself but you don’t want to choose a clichéd resolution that never again sees the light of day after January 1^st. The key is to pick something you know you can accomplish and stick to. We have compiled a list of three of the most popular resolutions in America today, including a couple of new ones. With hope you can choose one that can carry you through the entirety of the New Year.

Lose Weight. This is the most chosen resolution in recent times. Many Americans are unhappy with their weight and see the New Year as an ample opportunity to have a fresh start and get in shape. If this is your New Year’s resolution keep in mind that most people fail to see this one through. However, there are ways to get a hold on this resolution if you have your heart set on it. Don’t sign up for a gym membership just yet. If you really want to see this one through, you have to take baby steps. First find out what your daily caloric intake is and then try shaving off about 200 calories for the first 2 weeks. Then 500 calories, until you’ve reached no more than 2,000 per day. The average adult should be consuming about 2,000 calories a day depending on health issues and exact age. Go for foods that will fill you up and stay away from foods that are filled with empty calories, like chips and candy bars. Although junk food tastes amazing, it won’t fill you up and you’ll just want to eat more of it because you’re still feeling hungry. Things like chicken breast, salmon and wheat. Once you have a hold of your new diet you can start gradually hitting the gym up to five times a week but start with two to three times per week so that your body can get used to the extra activity.

Drink Less Alcohol. Alcohol can actually be a lot more dangerous than some illegal drugs but in moderation it can actually be healthy and make you feel relaxed. Some people take advantage of that relaxed feeling and end up consuming far more alcohol than is necessary. Knowing your limit is a vital part of sticking to this resolution. Find out what your buzzing point is and don’t go past that. Having a glass of wine a few nights out of the week is actually recommended by doctors (depending on what your health issues are) so don’t try to wean yourself off of it entirely. If you know that you drink too heavily then don’t make alcohol so accessible to yourself. If you have some friends that like to drink a lot too then start moderating the amount of time you’re spending with them.

Spend Less. America has been in a recession for about three years now and it has been predicted to go on for at least another two years. People are trying to spend less and save more in order to protect their futures. Prices on the items we use every day have not gone down so people are finding themselves in debt because they haven’t changed their spending ways. Since this recession isn’t going away any time soon, it’s about that time to get your finances in order. Remember when you were little and you saw a toy at the store and said to your mom, “Mommy I need this toy!” You’re mom would always say something like, “Do you need this toy or do you want it?” Yes, at this point you have discovered that needing and wanting are not one in the same so remember that next time you find yourself at the mall or wanting to take an elaborate vacation. You can also easily spend less by keeping track of how much money you make, how much you spend each month and how much leeway you may have. If you have no leeway and no money saved up then cutting your spending is a must. Start up a savings account as soon as you can to instill some financial security in your life.

Spend more time with friends and loved ones. We’re all working so much now to pay our bills and debts that we don’t get to see our friends and family very often anymore. But if something is important enough, people have a way of making time for it. If spending more time with your family is something you really want then keep that in mind next time you’re working overtime at your job. Take at least a day out of the week to visit with friends and family. This can also be considered relaxing time to get your mind off of the stresses at work.

Be happy. If you find yourself being unhappy with your life and you want to change that the first thing you need to do is pinpoint exactly what is making you unhappy and work toward changing those things. It is true that some things in life cannot be fixed but looking at something through a different perspective can make you feel better about it. Unhappy people usually have short tempers and get stressed out very easily so if you’re one of those people remember that some things are out of your control and stressing out over them is not going to change the circumstance. If you know that there are certain things that make you really happy then take the time to do more of those things. The Earth will continue to orbit the sun whether you want it to or not so concentrate on the things you can change and embrace the things you can’t.

We truly hope that you do stick to whatever New Year’s resolution you decide on. Have a safe, happy and prosperous New Year, Tiniziners.