Top New Year's Resolutions

New Year's resolutions are commitments or promises people make to themselves to change or modify their lifestyles for the better. Over the years, let's just say over the past decade, even I came up with some resolutions that I kept. I've always had every intention of fulfilling them, but somehow have ended up going in the opposite direction. New Year's Eve is just around the corner and all my friends are getting ready with their latest resolutions. Some of them come up with funny resolutions and others, like to make serious changes. Whether it's for your family, friends or co-workers, you can come up with resolutions that are a fun way to invite the coming year. Here are my favorite New Year's resolutions. Let's see if they can get a smile on your face.

Resolutions You Should Definitely Make

1. "My New Year's resolution is to gain weight. So I'm going to eat lots and lots of chocolate, which is not only going to make me gain weight but also give me an excuse to eat them."
2. "There are many different cuisines in the world, so I'm going to make it a point that I try at least two, different cuisines each month."
3. "Smoking is bad for everyone's health. I am making a resolution to help as many friends as I can to quit smoking."
4. "My family and friends are the most important people in my life. I want to capture each and every memory shared with them, so I'll take as many pictures of us together as possible."
5. "Our world consists of vast diversities of cultures and religions. It's a shame that I know nothing about more than half of the world, hence, this year I want to start with my self-education of world cultures."
6. "When I was in high school I used to work for a children's orphanage and I want to continue my passion towards helping children in need."
7. "I am going to stop lending large sums of money to people I don't trust."
8. "My most important business New Year's resolution is to be more open towards my colleagues and stop being shy."
9. "I have a very forgetful nature and tend to blank out people's birthdays and important events. So, I have bought a new calendar that I am going to stick on my fridge, with all the important birthdays marked on it."
10. "Every year, on my birthday, I end up spending time in the city. I want to see the world and what all that is out there, so I've made a resolution to go to a new country every year and discover new possibilities."

Common Resolutions People Make

Some commonly heard resolutions that can/may be simple or difficult to follow through the year.

• Quit smoking/drinking
• Eat healthy foods and lose weight
• Pay off debts
• Read more books
• Concentrate more on studies
• Save money
• Donate time and/or money to poor
• Reduce work-related and/or family-related stress
• Keep house/room clean
• Spend more time with family and friends

Resolutions Professionals Need to Make

To strike a healthy work-life balance, here are some examples of common resolutions, which you may or may not have heard, related to business.

• Get a decent paying job in this recession
• Get out of debt problems
• Get promoted by next year
• Make new friends at work
• Reach office on time
• Take time-off from work to be with family
• Get an increment in the next 6 months
• Promote business effectively and efficiently
• Fewer or no more layoffs
• Make the office more environment friendly
• Hire someone who's perfect for the job

Whether you're planning an evening out with family, friends or colleagues, make sure to come up with your own version of New Year's resolution to liven up your party. The tradition of coming up with New Year's resolutions is a great way to bid goodbye to the past year and welcome the future. Celebrate with people close to you and enjoy this fun way of entering the new year. Happy New Year!