Forget Resolutions: Countdown to Twenty-Thirteen

By Sharon O’Day –

The holidays have peaked. You’re sitting back, basking in the warmth of family joy. There are leftovers in the fridge and bags of torn wrappings ready for garbage pickup. (“Hmmm, there must be a more environmental way… but the little ones do love to tear off that paper …”)

All the planning, all the adrenaline build-up and all the checklists made for a perfect couple of days. Except for that one little glitch, of course, you know the one. (There’s always one. What was it this year?)

Your emotions ricochet between satisfaction and exhaustion and relief. It’s over. We made it past this first phase of the holidays. Done.

Now starts the countdown to Twenty-Thirteen.

The last days of December seem to fall under some sort of “fantasy umbrella.” Rules are broken. We allow ourselves little no-no’s and then say we’ll make up for them in the New Year. And, after the tough year some of us have had, maybe we really deserve the respite.

But I challenge you to fit one new piece into your countdown to New Year’s.

Sure, you’re thinking of how you’re going to usher in the New Year. Where you’ll go. What you’ll do. What you’ll wear and if those holiday pounds will show. Or, how to make that sensible stay-at-home celebration you’ve planned be meaningful. No, not meaningful: glorious!

Somewhere in the back of your mind, you’re also thinking “resolutions.” Everyone is. And everyone knows very few resolutions ever make it past January 5^th.

So this year I propose a new little challenge.

In the few days leading to the New Year, write down the five things you wish had been different in 2012. Maybe you already know what they are and can write them down right now. Maybe you need to let the task simmer in your brain for a day or two, and let your wishes come to the fore one by one. They might be financial. Or they might be about family, friendships or fitness.

By sometime around December 30^th, be sure you have your list of five things. Sit down over a cup of tea or coffee, somewhere quiet, and think of the opposite of each of those five things. For example:

• “I wish it weren’t so hard to close out each month because my income is too small” becomes “It’s easy to close out each month because my income is large.”
• “I wish my tax returns weren’t such a nightmare to prepare” becomes “I update my bookkeeping each month so my tax returns are easy to prepare and file.”
• “I wish I didn’t have to work so hard and had more time for my family” becomes “I put in reasonable work hours and have more time for my family.”
• “I wish I weren’t so tired all the time from carrying this extra weight” becomes “I’m full of energy because my weight is in a healthy range.”

Write them on a clean piece of paper.

At the top of the page, write “What 2013 Will Bring Me.” Make it fancy. Or make it simple. Do whatever you want, but “make it.”

Post your intentions for the year somewhere where you see them all the time:  over your computer, on the fridge door or in your desk’s top drawer.

They say goals are supposed to be real specific: earning an extra $2,000 a month or losing 25 pounds by May, for example. But that’s how resolutions get broken…and then abandoned.

Instead of defining exactly how and what you’ll do, you’ve plotted out your basic directions for the year. Your subconscious now knows what you want. And each time you have a decision to make, looking at your list will help you decide which way to go.

I bet by the end of 2013 you’ll find you’ve made some major strides on some of the things you said you want.

Give it a try. It’s infinitely better than making…and breaking…resolutions (as we all do).

And, if you’d like to post one or two of your intentions in the Comments section below (after all, some are too private to post!), please do so. It might be just the incentive someone else needs…

Here’s to making Twenty-Thirteen a truly stellar year!

Sharon O’Day is the author of the upcoming book “Money after Menopause.” She’s a global finance and marketing expert with an MBA from The Wharton School. Sharon has dedicated the last 10 years to understanding the money issues that hold women back from reaching financial security. Website: http://SharonODay.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/SharonODay Facebook: www.facebook.com/SharonODayFB.