It's a new year. Time to put into practice the resolutions you made on New Years Eve.

Contrary to popular belief, there is nothing magical about New Years Eve that causes us to automatically change or transform like a childs toy, into a resolution achieving superhero. Any magic you may have felt could be the magic of new beginnings and possibilities or simply the Big Fun and Party Hardy atmosphere of New Years Eve. But is that enough to pull you forward to achieve your resolutions? Probably not.

Although most resolutions revolve around behaviors to change, most of our behaviors are directly linked to our attitudes and beliefs. Which, psychologists have suggested if not addressed during efforts to achieve a resolution, could limit our ability to attain a permanent change, leaving our competing new and old attitudes at cross purposes. There are other attitude considerations when pursuing a resolution or making any attempts at behavioral change in our lives.

First, take some time to reflect on past resolutions. Did you really want to succeed? Or were you just surfing the resolution wave of New Years without considering what you really wanted or was truly important to you?

Do you continue to set the same resolution each year and then give up or forget about it?

Determine what you gain by staying the same. Is there an unacknowledged bonus for you in giving up? What would you lose if you did succeed? (It doesnt have to be logical or make sense for there to be an impact to your efforts).

Are you stymied by the first obstacle to your resolution or set back in accomplishing your goal? Sometimes it can be helpful to consider possible problems that could arise and how you will deal with them when you are still in the development phase of a resolution or behavior change goal. Then, if something does happen, you can stay in tune with your resolution while overcoming obstructions to your achievement.

It is also important to know just how serious or committed you are to the resolution. Have you designed accountability into your resolution? Will there be consequences for not reaching your resolution goal? Some of us must find the balance between accountability and consequences to find the resolve necessary to achieve change.

Finally, the most vital attitude element of achieving your resolution is to recognize the value of the promises you make to yourself. Simply put, your resolution is a promise to yourself. Start small, if need be, to make sure you can achieve your goal, thereby building success as reinforcement in your commitment to yourself. Of course, the resolutions you choose and how you manage them can also influence your success.

As when designing a household budget, make use of SMART goals to assist in achieving your resolution. SMART goals must be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time framed. Going through the process to ensure your goal is SMART can also help you focus your attention on the attitudes that may disrupt your efforts to achieve your goal. You might even find that making multiple small resolutions (focusing on the behaviors necessary to create the result you want) instead of one big resolution (the actual result you want) may make accomplishing your resolutions more manageable. Another advantage of making small resolutions is that you may find less resistance to doing them, allowing you to build a history of success fairly quickly.

Two more hints for successful resolutions to keep in mind. First, write them down. If you have created a SMART goal for your resolution the best way to keep track and be able to measure your progress is to write down your goal with checkpoints along the way. Second, avoid resolutions or goals that revolve around not doing something. A not doing resolution, like quitting smoking or to stop eating junk food, by its very nature puts your total focus on the thing you no longer want to do. It may seem like a small thing, but re-directing the resolution to becoming smoke-free or eating three servings of fruits and vegetables a day, can have a big impact on success by creating a shift in perspective.

A reporter once asked Albert Einstein what invention had the most influence and would continue to have the most influence on civilization and society. Mr. Einstein, who had so many astounding thoughts and ideas in his life-time, stated the most powerful invention was the pencil and paper.

Those in the know once told us with the advent of computers and technology we would become a paperless society. Reality has shown that most offices are producing 80% more paperwork than in the past. At CAF, we know how intimidating it can be to manage or organize all that paperwork, especially your financial records. According to organizational groups it doesnt really matter what system you use as long as you have one and use it consistently.

To avoid identity theft shred financial documents before discarding them.

How long should you keep paperwork before sending it to the shredder?

Here are some guidelines:

If you find yourself delinquent on your mortgage there are certain avenues of assistance you can pursue before you become a target for scammers.

1. Monthly bills (utility and credit cards): until you receive the next statement. Check that your payment was received and correctly credited to the account. Every quarter send your credit card statements to CAF for monitoring.
2. Pay stubs: until tax time
3. Bank and investment statements: until tax time
4. Insurance policies: as long as theyre in effect
5. Real estate records: as long as you own the property
6. Tax records: at least six years

By organizing your financial records it will be easier to keep track of your financial situation and be prepared at tax time.

The Word Search Challenge - the words listed below, pulled from the articles in this edition of Defeat Debt, are hidden in our puzzle. Test your skill and find all eighteen words. Good Luck!

ATTITUDE BEHAVIOR CHANGE FOCUS GAIN GOAL MAGIC NEAR NEW ORGANIZE PROBLEM RECORDS RESOLUTION SMALL SMART SUCCESS VALUE YEAR