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Photo credit by Lenabem-Anna

Once the New Year's Eve ball has dropped and the fireworks have ended, it is time to put those New Year's resolutions into practice. Typically, the gusto to follow through with those New Year's goals dies within a few weeks. This year, stay true to your New Year's commitments with these five New Year's resolutions that you need to keep.

1. Get Healthy

One of the most common New Year's resolutions is a declaration to lose weight. This year, instead of just saying that you want to drop a few pounds, make a decision to get healthy. Becoming healthy is about making lifestyle choices like improving your diet, developing an exercise routine, and working on your emotional and spiritual well-being. This is a resolution is not only one that you need to keep, but also one that you are more likely to keep, since you will be making long-term, lifestyle changes.

2. Save Money

Although this resolution seems like one of the most logical and beneficial, it is also one of the most difficult resolutions to adhere to. Saving money means making sacrifices. In order to put extra money in your piggy bank, you may have to forgo that giant, new, flat screen television that you have been eyeing, or swap your weekly mani/pedi salon trips for fresh polishes at home. Saving money this year could mean cushioning your financial future, and having emergency money for life's curve balls. Some sacrifices are worth making.

3. Conserve Energy

A commitment to conserving energy should be a lifelong philosophy in addition to a New Year's resolution. Concerns about climate change, global warming, and pollution are making the world more environmentally conscious. You can do your part by making a New Year's resolution to conserve energy.

Simple ways to maintain your energy conservation commitment include the following:

• Use energy efficient light bulbs.
• Turn off all electrical appliances and devices when they are not in use. Connect them to a power strip, so that you don't have to turn off each device individually.
• Instead of turning up the temperature on your thermostat, use energy efficient space heaters in vital rooms of your home.

4. Create Quality Time

Today's tech culture does not leave much time for human connection. Everything from shopping and entertainment, to working and socializing can be done online. This year, make a resolution to create quality time with your loved ones, and disconnect from your virtual world. Instead of blogging about your feelings, and updating your status via Facebook, actually talk to your friends and family in person. Take the time to make personal connections again, and if you can stand all of the nostalgia, maybe write a letter (yes, that means snail mail) to someone special instead of shooting out an email.

5. Make Your Own Bucket List

The release of 2007's hit film The Bucket List (Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman) ushered in a trend of reflecting on one's life. Bucket lists are the epitome of life resolutions. They are lists of things that someone wishes to do before he or she kicks the proverbial bucket. The New Year holiday presents a great opportunity for you to create your own bucket list. This process allows you to examine your life by putting your values, goals, and dreams into perspective. What better way to begin a new year?

Take charge of your year by committing to these five New Year's resolutions. If you get healthy, save money, conserve energy, create quality time, and make your own bucket list, you will have a year that is beneficial to you, your loved ones, and the planet. Here's to a fantastic year ahead!