New Year’s Eve encourages us to reflect back on the past and, most importantly, look forward to the future.
The advent of the New Year gives us a chance to redefine ourselves and set new goals for our lives. As soon as the indulgent holiday season comes to a close, we focus our energy on rediscovering our true priorities and creating a definitive path toward the future we’ve always dreamed of.
Although individuals lead very different lives, somehow our New Year’s Resolutions remain very similar year after year. We may be very unique and complicated humans, but at the end of the year, we all resolve to spend more time with family, get in shape, get out of debt, get a new job, travel more, and stop smoking, among many other universal goals.
Discover the top New Year’s Resolutions in San Diego and beyond.
Lose Weight: One of the most common annual resolutions is to lose weight. Following a calorie-packed holiday season, every January we strive to put our favorite foods on the shelf in favor of a strategic diet. While many people simply try to sacrifice fatty foods, there are now a multitude of mapped out diet plans that offer an advanced path toward weight loss. Just a few of the most popular diets are Medifast, Nutrisystem, Dr. Siegal’s Cookie Diet, The Master Cleanse, South Beach Diet, and Zone Diet. Learn more about the top ten diets for 2011.
Get in Shape: Real weight loss is the result of a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Once you pick the diet that is right for you, it’s time to pick your new San Diego gym. From Lava Fitness and FIT Athletic Club to The Bar Method and Pilates Plus, we’ve tried and tested, hunted and gathered San Diego’s most innovative and new-age boutique gyms and fitness trends that will inspire locals to get back on the right track to good health now, and well into the New Year. Get rid of your boring treadmill routine and discover the latest industry revelations in SPX Pilates, Xtend Barre, Gravity, Zumba, Power Boxing, Boot Camp, and Muay Thai. Learn more about the best San Diego gyms.
Learn Something New: It’s never too late to go back to school. Whether you’re finally graduating from USD, going back for your MBA at SDSU or taking night classes to learn a new language at Mira Costa College, education is the essence of a charmed life. However, if you want to expose yourself to a new culture, you don’t have to head back to the classroom. San Diego is home to a diverse array of museums, art galleries and theaters that offer daily exhibitions of rich history and art from past and present day. Continue your education by expanding your horizons throughout San Diego culture. Learn more about what’s new at San Diego museums and San Diego theaters.
Get Cosmetic Surgery: In the modern health and beauty industry, getting cosmetic surgery is becoming increasingly popular. As a result of heightened coverage on glossy magazines and popular TV shows like "Nip & Tuck" and "Extreme Makeover" our high standards of beauty only evolve with time. If you’re looking to get a cosmetic surgery in San Diego for the New Year, you have many options for transformative procedures and top rank surgeons. Some of the most popular procedures are Breast Augmentation, Liposuction, Tummy Tuck, Rhinoplasty, Facelift, Spider Vein Removal and Eyelid Surgery. To get all the details, check out the Top 10 Cosmetic Surgery Procedures. To learn more about cosmetic surgery in San Diego, visit our directory of San Diego plastic surgeons.
Stop Smoking: To finally stop smoking for good is a very common resolution each year. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug, which causes changes in the brain that make people want to use it more and more. Nicotine also causes unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, which makes it very hard to stop smoking. Smokers also have many fears about quitting, including the fear of gaining weight, not being able to handle stress, and never completely getting over the craving for nicotine. The harsh truth is that over 80% of people who try to stop smoking cigarettes on their own fail. However, there is now a variety of methods to help you overcome your addiction. A few of the most effective stop smoking remedies include smoking patches, chewing gum, inhalers, and hypnosis. Learn more ways to help yourself and your loved ones this year at smokefree.gov.
Go to the Dentist: A bright, white smile is the first thing we notice about people we meet, as well as what we always desire for ourselves. Yet, making a dentist appointment never seems to be first on our priority list. There is a fearful stigma attached to “going to the dentist” that still plagues many big kids long after childhood. The simple truth is that dental health is crucially important to our total wellbeing, and the only way to stay on track is to make regular visits to your San Diego dentist. Just in time for the New Year, Mission Boulevard Dental Group is making it easier than ever to finally fulfill your resolution and get back to the dentist. For the entire month of January 2011, Mission Boulevard Dental Group is offering an incredible New Year’s Resolution Special: Dental check-up, x-rays and teeth bleaching all for just $75. Valued at $505, this incredible deal is worth celebrating a trip to a new dentist in the New Year! Call 877.522.3804 and mention DiscoverSD today!
Volunteer to Help Others: It’s true what they say – it’s always better to give than to receive. San Diego is a city full of benevolent locals always looking for more ways to give back to the community. Volunteering more is always a noble resolution for the New Year. One of the best local resources is Volunteer San Diego, a nonprofit organization that directs capacity-building programs and services that engage volunteers in working hand-in-hand with nonprofit agencies to develop strong and vibrant communities. Just through Volunteer San Diego, over 51,059 volunteers were engaged this year. Learn more at volunteersandiego.org. Another great local resource is Stay Classy which is an online template of social fundraising for nonprofits. Learn about new and notable nonprofits and discover what local events you can attend for a great cause just by visiting stayclassy.org. DiscoverSD.com is proud to give you direct access to the city’s best charity events. Follow our San Diego entertainment blog to start giving back in style today.
Travel More: Is there anything better than a relaxing holiday? I’m not talking about a three-day weekend, but a real one or two week long vacation spent somewhere far, far away from home. A very popular New Year’s Resolution is to travel more. Whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway with your special someone or a fun-filled adventure with the whole family, you can plan a 2011 vacation on any budget. We are lucky to be surrounded by so many luxury San Diego resorts that are perfect for affordable staycations. From L’Auberge Del Mar to Rancho Bernardo Inn and Rancho Valencia, when you check in to these local resorts, you’ll feel thousands of miles away from home. If you need to get outside your zip code, there are many hot spots that will give you a vacation state of mind without breaking the bank. From Palm Springs to Mexico, Hawaii and South America, the sky is the limit when you put travel as your first priority, especially when prices are cheap during the offseason. Learn more about San Diego resorts and drool over your next dream destination with Condé Nast Traveler online.
Get Out of Debt: From student loans to medical bills, divorce, moving and shopping addiction, it seems we all find ourselves deep in debt for a variety of reasons. Although we make the minimum payments, year by year the debt total just seems to rise before we can even make a dent. The truth is that minimum payments just won’t make a difference; getting out of debt is a step-by-step process that starts with ending your spending. A few ways to begin holding yourself accountable and getting your finances under control are to calculate how much debt you really have. Then challenge yourself to track your necessity spending and find extra money to pay down debt as often as you can. This can be referred to as the Credit Card Game, and every dollar counts. Once you get this first phase under control, you should create a monthly spending plan, prioritize your debts and make strides to raise your credit score. If you want more help, there are a variety of San Diego debt resources, such as Money Management International which is a nonprofit community service. Learn more at moneymanagement.org.
Get a New Job: Due to financial struggle or location limitations, we sometimes find ourselves struck in a dead end job. Whether you’re looking for higher pay, more intellectual challenge, or a brand new industry, it is never too late to look for a new job. If finding a new job in San Diego is your New Year’s Resolution, we have a few tips to help you find you find your new career path. There are three important steps to take. First, decide whether to make a change at all. Before you decide to take on this life-changing challenge, find out if a new career is the right thing for your lifestyle. Once you’ve decided, it’s time to choose the new career field and plan your career change. Depending on your choice, you may need to get additional training either in the form of a degree, additional coursework or work experience. Make a plan to make your transition to a new career much easier. There are many local resources for looking for new jobs in San Diego, such as safelist.com, sandiegojobs.com, sandiego.jobing.com, and sandiego.craigslist.org, monster.com, and careerbuilder.com.
More common New Year’s Resolutions are to stop drinking and to spend more time with family.
What is your 2011 New Year’s Resolution in San Diego? Leave a comment below!
