Things always pick up at the gym at the beginning of the year and every year with people starting their New Year’s resolutions. I’m happy for them. It’s a fresh start with a fresh year. However, the chaos starts to taper off around the end of February or March.
That’s puzzling at a time when there are more resources than ever, literally at our fingertips, designed to help us reach these goals.
Why not let the Internet help you reach your New Year’s resolutions? Here are five types of websites that can boost your motivation and get you on the right track in just a few minutes a day:
1. Fitness and nutrition sites. There is an entire industry built around fitness on the Internet. Sites like menshealth.com, shape.com, and livestrong.com can all help you shed extra pounds while enjoying a healthier lifestyle. Plus, most have tips and instructional videos for beginners. To clean up your diet at the same time, check out cooking sites like allrecipes.com to find healthy, low-cost recipes you can make in minutes.
2. Motivational web pages and blogs. If you haven’t visited a site like Greatday.com, or the blog for your favorite motivational speaker or author, you might be surprised at the difference it can make on your mood and productivity. Or, if you aren’t the kind to be inspired by words, check out the before-and-after weight loss on Tumblr, or the inspirational quotes and photos available on dozens of blogs.
3. Travel sites and language schools. Yearning for that big adventure? Popular travel sites like Kayak and Expedia can help you map out that trip of a lifetime, while Priceline can help you do it on a budget. To give yourself some extra motivation (and experience a foreign destination in a new way), try Rosetta Stone or one of the online language schools. You might be surprised to find that you have a knack for picking up Spanish, Italian, or another language.
4. Financial planning sites and business publications. If you’d like to be a little wealthier in 2013 (and who wouldn’t?), some of the old standbys like Money.com and Fool.com have tips on investing, wealth management, and even debt reduction. Or, hit Google for some great first-person accounts on building a business, paying off bills, making college more affordable, etc.
5. Online universities. Even a few years ago, an “online university” was one that only took students over the Internet. Now, lots of state and local schools are offering Internet versions of popular classes, and even complete degree programs. What a great way to learn something new, fulfill a lifelong dream, or just add to your career prospects and earning potential.
Experts say that fewer than one in ten Americans actually follow through on their New Year’s resolutions, at least for more than a few days. Why not beat the odds – and be the envy of your friends and colleagues – by using the Internet to make real changes in your life this year?