Promises, Promises

Janus, the early Roman guardian of doors and gateways, represented beginnings; that's how January got its name. Janus was traditionally depicted as having two faces, pointed in opposite directions, and was believed to be able to see both the past and the future. As a result, Janus became a symbol of resolutions, both of what went before and for what was to come. That's why we still spend December preparing to make New Year's resolutions.

But we don't tend to keep them. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology finds that nearly 30 percent of us abandon our resolutions by the end of the second week in January. By June, another 24 percent have jumped ship; only 46 percent of us keep our promises past that.

Also, we're all resolving to do the same things. The top three New Year's resolutions: lose weight, quit smoking, and save more money. Here are some resources to help you meet your goals.

QuitNet
Quitnet's motto is "Quit Altogether" since, after all, that is the goal. The site provides several resources for phasing out the nicotine urge, including a customizable quitting plan, tips and advice from expert counselors, and an online QuitNet community to turn to for support.
www.quitnet.com

South Beach Diet
One of the most popular regimens in the ubiquitous low-carb craze, the South Beach Diet has its own Web site offering slim-seekers several personalized online options including a Weight Tracker, Meal Planner, and Shopping List Generator.
www.southbeachdiet.com

Fidelity
The well-known financial services company's motto says it all: "Maybe it's time for a change." Indeed. This year, Kiplinger's Personal Finance recognized Fidelity's Web site for Best Overall Web Performance, citing its excellent organization and superior offering of financial tools. The site offers brokerage services, research, and guidance.
www.fidelity.com