New Years Resolution #2: Get in shape, kind of.

Photo by Ken Stewart

Tis the season for resolutions. Promises, hopes, dreams and expectations. I am no different. There are many things on my list of things to accomplish in 2011. One of my big ones is to get in shape. Sort of. I have to qualify this statement because I am really, really, really out of shape. I have never, ever really been "in shape". In my whole life. Honestly. So for me, the term "getting in shape" is a relative term. It means going from jiggly-no-muscle-tone-low-aerobic-capacity girl to some improvement of the above mentioned description. No problem right!

According to a recent poll, I am not alone. The second and third most popular New Year's resolutions are getting fit, and losing weight. I am definitely on board with both of these ideas. I am not obsessed with my figure, nor do I consider myself vain. But I have always been a bit overweight and never physically fit, so I feel there is definitely room for improvement. I will never have a model's figure, nor will I ever be an elite athlete, but I can definitely aspire to be an improved version of my present self. 

The most popular way to get fit seems to be joining a gym.
According to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), there were approximately 45.3 million Americans belonging to 29,750 health clubs in 2009. Fitness clubs are ubiquitous, and the myriad offerings appeal to many people. Whether it's racquetball, squash, treadmills, hot yoga or pole dancing classes, there seems to be something to appeal to just about every personality and interest. For me, fitness clubs are an appealing option, but my budget will simply not allow it. Ideally, I think I would like to join a club, hire a personal trainer and have someone to assess my fitness level (zero) and figure out some exercises I could do to improve my state. However, no money is available for such diversions, so I have decided when the weather improves I will try to start walking. I live along a fitness trail, and it's free. So as soon as the snow and ice clear, I can start hoofing it along the trail and hopefully start my fitness regime.

Photo by emmequadro61

New Years Resolution #1: I shall not covet my neighbour's stuff!

Photo by Cynthia K

I have to admit, this is a tough one. I started off the New Year, talking to my brother (the shiny, rich, perfectly attired brother!) and he recounted his absolutely perfect New Year's celebration. He related how he and his beautiful wife had a lovely pre-New Years party at their home with drinks and hors d'oeuvres for 16 of their closest friends. Then the party posse moved to the country club down the road, where they rang in the New Year with a lavish dinner, drinks and dancing. DANG! That's the New Year's celebration I wanted. Instead, I worked at my real job until 6pm, came home dog tired, we ordered Chinese take-out, watched the ball drop on the television, went to sleep, then got food poisoning and spent the next two days in bed. Ouch.

Coveting is a difficult thing. My human frailty leads me to do it every now and again. My brother's life often seems so polished and perfect (there's that word again!) it makes me crazy. My own life seems harried, disorganized and chaotic in comparison. Their home looks like a decorating magazine. Mine looks  half-finished, toy-strewn, kid-friendly, and not too clean in comparison. I could go on and on, but you get the idea. 

Other people's lives often look great in comparison to our own. Not having a bird's eye view into their homes often makes us skew our vision of what their lives must be like. Seeing all the beautiful possessions, the tailored clothes and the shiny cars makes many people crazy! (myself included) Why can't my life be like that (or sort of like that!). 

It's difficult to take that step back, and breathe. Coveting our neighbour's stuff is human, but not particularly productive. It inhibits our own growth process. If we want to change our lives (financial, social, personal) we have to look within. Examining our history, our habits and our frailties is the first step. Only then can we get an idea of what we need to do, what goals we want to set, what steps need to be taken to improve our lives. It is possible. Just shove those covetous thoughts aside already!

«What people say, what people do, and what they say they do are entirely different things.» — Margaret Mead

New Years -- Resolve, Restart, Refocus

I love New Years. And not just because I met my husband on New Years Eve, 2002. (awesome!) I love what this time of year represents. It's a time of transition for me; I'm trying to right my financial ship, I'm trying to branch out in other directions away from my chosen career, and I'm trying to simplify things at home by cleaning, recycling and getting rid of clutter. It's all lofty ambitions and pie-in-the-sky, or is it?
Regardless of one's circumstances, and the journey a person is taking, it's of great benefit to pause once in awhile and take note of one's progress (or lack thereof!). For some people, it's time to start something new, set a goal.
And, really, that's the thing. In order to achieve some measure of success, you have to set a goal for yourself. Not something too fuzzy like "look better", "organize my house" or "meet people". A goal ideally is specific and quantifiable. It's also a good idea to make a goal achievable. Give yourself a timeline, set the goal, and reach for it. For example, I want to completely pay off my balance (say, $500) on credit card X in 6 months. To make it achievable, divide the payment into 6 equal installments, set up the payments automatically on your online banking software, and voila, goal achieved. (Of course, you need to stop using this credit card completely or hide it in an ice cream tub in the freezer!) Once a small goal is set, and achieved, then it makes it easier and more desirable to set another goal, and the success bandwagon is in motion!

 There are a number of items on my to-do list for 2011. First thing is to pay off my credit card with the highest interest rate, and lowest balance. (interest rate, almost 19.5%, balance around $800). I am waiting for a freelancer paycheque (around $350) to pay off the first chunk of that debt. Then, I will pay another $100 monthly until it's paid off. Should be less than 6 months. Then, I will be cancelling that card (interest rate too high anyway), and keeping just the one main credit card with the under 6% balance, but much higher balance. That's going to be the next hurdle to clear, will take a bit longer. but it's still achievable. I will have to do up a formal budget in the next few days and see what my cash flow will look like in the coming months. 

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.
Walter Elliot