How To Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

The new year has come and gone and we're months into another new year.

How many of us have managed to get this far in sticking to our new year resolutions or the goals we have set for ourselves for this year?

We live in such a paradox – we long for “things” to be different, yet we find ourselves staying close to our comfort zone and near our safety nets.

How do we make the resolutions reality?

The first step is to not just casually blurt out some random goals. Instead, think about it ahead of time. Scan your brain for the things that you really want to change about yourself, and be honest. The only way to improve yourself is to admit you have flaws that need improving in the first place. Get a piece of paper and write down all the things you like about yourself, and all the things you want to change. Once you have an honest list with more than a few things written down, think about what your highest priorities are. Of the things you wrote down that you wanted to change, which ones are the most crucial?

To be successful with your own resolutions you need to -
• Have a strong initial commitment to make a change.
• Have coping strategies to deal with problems that will come up.
• Keep track of your progress. The more monitoring you do and feedback you get, the better you will do

1. Get real - Being realistic is one of the most important steps to making resolutions, since illogical and unachievable resolutions will never be kept. The easiest way to not live up to your resolution is to make a goal that is simply unattainable. Try not to make goals that are too big for you to swallow. Remember that big changes come from lots of small changes, so try to focus on the smaller stuff first. Sometimes just being more vague with your goals can help. For instance, if you are very overweight but have never exercised in your life, your goal should be to exercise more, not to lose that 150 pounds you have laying around. Obviously you want to lose that weight, but If you make that your goal, chances are you will only end up getting frustrated when you do not get the results you wanted, and stop all together. In order to focus on the bigger picture, sometimes we have to focus on the smaller ones first..

2. Dare to Commit - When we make a resolution, we are resolving to do something, with a firm determination. Many times our list is the outcome: lose 10 kilos, balance home and work, conquer procrastination, eliminate debt, become organized, etc. And that’s as far as it goes. What we omit is the commitment to actually do it. We resolve that we want something different in our lives, yet we omit a commitment to actually do it. The saying, “the main thing is to make the main thing the main thing” is true at this point. By daring to commit, you are saying that you will resolve to make this outcome the main thing – and there is determination to make it a reality.

3. Put it all on paper - Write down your resolutions so that they become more official. Keep them in an accessible place as reminders - tape them to your mirror, write them in a journal or put them on your refrigerator door or wherever else they can serve as constant reminders.

4. Find A Reason - You have already made the conscious decision to make a change by proclaiming your New Years resolution - now find a reason and write it down. For example your "goal" may be to lose 10 kg of unhealthy body fat, but that goal needs to be backed up by a reason for needing that change e.g. "I need to lose 10 kg of unhealthy body fat to help me lower my chance of heart disease".

Identifying a specific reason to make the change will act to fuel your desire - there is a big difference between "wanting" something and "having" to have it. So when you write out your goal(s) add each one the reason that you have to achieve it.

5. Paint The Big Picture - Once we throw the gauntlet in the sand and commit to do something about our resolution, we are gripped with the fear of “how”? This is where the rubber meets the road. The plan needs to be worked out beforehand for the accomplishment of the resolution. This requires work on your part! Your plan is dependent upon you – where you are in life; what your home, family, and work environments are like; what motivates you; what you can anticipate as obstacles; influence of past accomplishments; how far you are willing to go past your comfort zone; etc. A plan that follows the SMART format (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely) is invaluable to making the resolution real.

6. Start as soon as possible - Start your resolutions right away, and take the necessary steps as soon as possible. So if you resolve to lose weight, throw out all the junk in your cupboards immediately. If you promise to start eating healthy as soon as the junk food in your house is finished, chances are you'll just finish it all off -- and stock up again... and again.

7. Planning and Convenience - It is equally as important to make a plan that is convenient to you, and that doesn't demand of you that you make the decision to commit again and again everyday. Don't make a plan that is bound to fail. If your resolution is to drink less alcohol, make it convenient for yourself by making sure you have something else in the house to drink. If you want to workout more often, find a gym that is on the your way home, and choose an exercise that doesn't require a lot of equipment at first, like walking. This way you can be a little more flexible, and less dependent on gym hours or the availability of certain pieces of equipment.

8. Start small and incorporate the changes into your lifestyle - Make resolutions that will be easy to keep by making sure that they do not call for a drastic change in your lifestyle. Rather than resolve to exercise for 30 minutes every day, start with one session a week for a month and then build up to two sessions a week for a month and so on. If you have to change your routine, it'll give you more excuses to break your promises.

9. Mark your calendar - Set deadlines for yourself to tackle each step toward reaching your goal, one at a time.

10. Find a role model - Is there anyone who has succeeded in fulfilling an ambition like yours? Look to this person as a reminder that it is possible to achieve your goal.

11. Inform friends and family of your goals - Telling your friends and family about your resolutions and recruiting them to regularly remind and support you in your endeavors not only gives you a support system in attaining your goals, it also adds a little guilt factor when you are tempted to throw in the towel. And a little extra guilt to help you resist temptation never hurt anyone.

12. Reward yourself - If you've been keeping your resolutions, give yourself a reward. Feeling good about yourself is not the only thing that'll keep you going, and you deserve tangible rewards as extra motivation. If your resolution is to exercise and you're keeping it up, buy yourself an exorbitant gift, and if you promise to stop smoking, reward yourself with a martini. Make sure the reward isn't contrary to your resolution; celebrate a cigarette-free month with a weekend trip or a new outfit, not with a cigarette!

Take credit for success when you achieve a resolution, but it is a mistake to blame yourself if you fail. Instead, look at the barriers that were in your way. See how you can do better the next time and figure out a better plan to succeed. You do get to try again and can make behavior changes throughout the year, not only at New Year's. Don't sweat the setbacks; persistence is the key. Visualize how good it will be when you have achieved your goal. When you are tempted to give up, remind yourself of why you started in the first place!

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