Times Square Getting Ready For New Year; Experts Offer Resolution Advice
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The lights are almost in place for New Year's Eve in Times Square and there are just four days left until the big ball drops. With the new year, come new resolutions. However, it doesn't take long for many to realize resolutions are more like challenges.
They sound simple, but more than the half the people who make New Year's resolutions give up in six months or less. But your resolution doesn't have to be doomed this year, the biggest mistake people make year after year is not being specific.
"Instead of saying 'I'm going to lose weight,' you need to say something more like 'I'm going to resolve to lose 2 pounds each week for the next ten weeks,'" said Meaghan Murphy, of Self Magazine, told CBS 2's Cindy Hsu.
Murphy says a resolution should never be too big or too vague, and no matter what the vow, you need patience because results won't happen overnight.
"To establish any kind of a habit, it needs to become part of your routine and you need to take some crucial steps to to cement it," Murphy said.
One of the most important steps is to make your resolution public. Studies show those people who tell friends and family about a new commitment are less likely to break it.
"When you put it out there in the world all of a sudden, 'oh shoot, I better do that,'" Murphy said.
Some expert also advised considered beginning to implement the resolution in the middle of March.
"Sometimes there can be too much pressure on the resolutions that you start in January," said Jennifer Wright of thegloss.com. "We've all started to try and exercise in January and suddenly the gym is just overrun with people."
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, workers installed the world-famous ball - complete with 2,688 Waterford crystal triangles.
WCBS 880's Monica Miller On The Installation
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The crystal triangles were placed in a new design titled "Let There Be Friendship." It is meant to represent friends holding hands around the globe.
Each triangle is about 5 inches long, 6.8 ounces and less than one-half an inch thick. They are custom-designed to withstand the stresses of high winds, precipitation and temperature fluctuation.
Saudi Arabia native Jawad Alkowaitz says he's looking forward to the Times Square party.
"You walk in and you see people from all around the world, and I think that's what [is] awesome about Times Square," he told WCBS 880 reporter Monica Miller.
He and his friends say they want the whole New Year's Eve experience.
"I think we're going to camp out and stay and look at that ball," he said.
Times Square wasn't the only New York City venue to make Priceline.com's list of top spots -- which is based on hotel reservations -- to ring in the new year. Here is the complete list:
#1 New York City, Times Square/Theater District
#2 Las Vegas, Strip Vicinity South
#3 New York City, Midtown West
#4 Las Vegas, Strip North
#5 New York City, Midtown East
#6 New York City, Central Park South
#7 New York City, Madison Square Garden/Convention Center Area
#8 New Orleans, French Quarter
#9 New York City, Empire State Building Area
#10 New York City, Chelsea Area
#11 New Orleans, Downtown Area
#12 New York City, Hell's Kitchen
#13 Las Vegas, Strip Vicinity North
#14 Chicago, North Michigan Avenue/River North Area
#15 New York City, Upper East Side
#16 San Francisco, Union Square East
#17 Chicago, Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park Area
#18 San Francisco, Union Square West/Nob Hill
#19 New York City, Upper West Side
#20 Orlando, Downtown Disney/Lake Buena Vista
#21 Las Vegas, Near Strip West
#22 Las Vegas, Near Strip East
#23 Miami, South Beach/Collins Avenue Oceanfront
#24 Miami, South Beach/Ocean Drive
#25 New Orleans, Convention Center and Warehouse/Arts District
#26 Las Vegas, Convention Center Area
#27 San Francisco, Financial District/Embarcadero
#28 New York City, Queensborough Bridge Area
#29 Orlando, Sea World/International Drive/Convention Center
#30 Miami, South Beach/Central
#31 Miami, Downtown
#32 San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf
#33 New York City, Soho/Tribeca
#34 Philadelphia, Downtown
#35 New York City, Downtown/Financial District
#36 Atlanta, Downtown
#37 Los Angeles, Hollywood
#38 Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort Area/Int'l Drive North
#39 Orlando, Disney/Maingate/Celebration
#40 Nashville, Downtown/Vanderbilt/Metrocenter
#41 Minneapolis, Downtown
#42 San Francisco, SOMA/Moscone Center
#43 Miami, International Airport Area
#44 New Orleans, Garden District
#45 San Francisco, Fremont St. Vicinity
#46 New York City, Lower East Side
#47 San Diego, Downtown/Harbor Island
#48 Orange County, Disneyland/Anaheim South/Orange/Garden Grove
#49 Orange County, Disneyland/Anaheim North
#50 Toronto, Downtown South
How are you spending your New Year's Eve? Sound off in the comments section below!
