Habits that Hold You Back: Why time and money can't be your excuses not to live

My mom has always told me that you will never have enough time or enough money. If you are waiting for either of those things, you will never get anything done.

Let’s get those excuses out of the way. Granted, there are times that those two things are holding us back from what we want to do. Of course we can't backpack around Europe with any money for a plane ticket. Of course we can’t become a foster parent with a full time job and school. But the things that we really want to do, the ones that light our souls on fire, there will always be a way to make those things happen. And 2014 can be your year to do so if you let it.

Likely, it is not your time or money that is holding you back, it is the habits that you have formed in your life that eat away at those principal resources. Here is a list of the most common New Year’s Resolutions for our age group. If you are resolving yourself to make a change this year, don't let time and money stop you from achieving your goals.

Get Fit.

"I really want to get fit, but I have no time to go to the gym."

You might be busy. You might be taking a full course load, be working full time and have a whole gamut of other responsibilities to attend to. I can assure you that there is someone busier than you who is doing it. If this is truly a goal of yours, you will make it happen in your busy life. Go on a half hour run at lunchtime. Start cooking clean meals. Make small changes that work within your lifestyle.

"I have no money to join a gym."

Gyms can be really expensive. Depending on where you live, they can range from $10-$200. Do some research. If there is not a gym in your area that can fit in your budget, remember that you can run outside for free. Use your own body weight to tone your muscles, and YouTube some workout videos.

Save Money.

This can be really hard for most of us who are just embarking on our professional careers. We have loans to pay back, bills to pay, and new expenses keep popping up out of nowhere. My best advice for this is to make sure that no matter what, you are putting money into a 401k or 403b. Even if times are tight, have it set up where you don't see the money ever hit your account. Get used to living on less, and you will not notice that it is gone.

If you are extra ambitious, set up an IRA. Talk to a financial adviser and see what your options are. You will never regret saving this money in the future. If you want to start a bit smaller than this, try cutting out a few coffee drinks a week. Skip the latte at Starbucks, there is milk on the counter behind you. Or better yet, make it at home. You will be amazed as to how much you save by making small changes.

Find Love.

In order for this one to fall into place, first you need to ask yourself if you are your best self-right now. If you have things you want to improve, improve them. Work on yourself, and becoming a person that you love. You want to attract the right person, and you can’t do that if you don’t even like the person that you are.

Make the changes. Spend time finding out what your real interests and passions are. Find out what makes you tick, and what sets you apart from your friends. Become the confident person that you are on the aside, and accept your quirks.

When in doubt, just hone your inner Carrie Bradshaw:

"But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you love, well, that's just fabulous."