The following blog was originally published in Federal Navigators’ Blog.

New Year’s Resolutions:  Weight, Taxes, and Memoirs

In the weeks before Christmas we often dwell too much on what we don’t have or what we have not accomplished, instead of counting our blessings. We start making goals and resolutions, usually about losing weight, getting our taxes done early, or (my favorite) writing our memoirs.

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Changes at the Margins

But if you do want to make some changes in the new year, it shouldn’t be done with lofty resolutions, cold-turkey declarations, or grand pronouncements at the dinner table. For most of us, some small changes at the margins are all it takes to get back on course.

One Soda a Day

If your goal is to lose weight, don’t just spend your time contemplating the number of pounds you want to lose or an article of clothing you want to fit into for your daughter’s wedding. Instead, focus your attention on small changes. For instance, if you’ve been eating at McDonald’s every day for lunch, cut it down to two or three times a week. If you slurp down a six pack of soda each day, try nursing just one can with a big bottle of water water instead. If the extent of your daily exercise has been climbing the stairs to go to bed, start with 10 minutes a day on the stationary bike in the basement. (Put a big ol’ flat screen TV in front of it to keep you interested.)

Big Plans, Big Failure

Making big plans to change your lifestyle all at once may only set you up for failure.  And when people fail after setting the bar too high, they are often less likely to make another attempt.

Financial Resolutions:  Do We Make Them?

A Fidelity study found that only 31% of us made financial resolutions for 2015, down from 43% in 2014. Of those making financial resolutions, 55% want to save more and 17% want to spend less, which seems illogical. Most of the time, you can’t save more unless you spend less.

It is surprising that 69% of us don’t seem to consider our financial well being significant enough to want to make financial resolutions. I guess making a New Year’s resolution to look good at the beach takes precedence over whether or not we can afford to go to the beach in the first place.

The Other Side of the Data

The same data also shows that more than half of those who made financial resolutions in 2014 feel that they are financially better off, with 74% achieving at least 50% of their goal, and 29% achieving their goal completely.

Financial Goals Attainable With Easy Steps

So why the high success rate for those who make financial resolutions for the new year? It may be due to the small and typically easy steps needed for success. There’s no diet to suffer through, no need to work up a sweat at the gym, and no pressure to ignore the smell of that Mrs. Smith’s pie baking in the oven.

For most people, it is as simple as stopping by the HR department and selecting a higher retirement contribution rate each pay period. Lowering your cable bill can be done easily online by turning off premium channel selections you barely even use. Going out to eat every weekend can be substituted with fancy dinners at home. These savings all begin to add up in your bank account, without taking a huge toll on your quality of living.

(Sometimes) No Effort Required

If you invest these savings well and then stay the course, it may require almost no effort at all. The money can work for you, whether or not you keep your resolutions to eat better and exercise more.

So as you get ready for 2015, find a few small steps you can take for your financial resolutions, and your retirement account will thank you for it in the years to come.

About the author: Federal Navigators, located in Gaithersburg Maryland, was founded in 2012 by Ryan Dunn and the partners of Medallion Financial Group. John Stohlman, Dan Searles, and Laura Stohlman been in business for over 25 years each, are all certified financial planners,and collectively manage well over $300 million in assets. We aim to empower Federal Employees with the education, direction, and advice they need to make wise decisions about their benefits and retirement. Visit our website, federalnavigators.com for more information and check out our blog, federalnavigators.com/blog/ for weekly posts.