How to Keep Your New Years Resolutions

Keeping New Year's Resolutions can be very difficult for some people. This is probably because most people choose pretty big things to change about themselves. Here are a few steps to help you achieve your goals.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lot's of will power
• Good Friends
• Sticky Notes!

1. 
    

   Put sticky notes up as reminders where you will see it often. I sometimes put sticky notes on my bathroom mirror, so I will see it when I brush my teeth and get ready for the day. I also put them on my computer monitor, since I use my computer everyday.

2. 
    

   Tell your friends and family what you plan to do. It's harder to "cheat" when you know everyone is watching you. It holds you accountable, but only do this step if it will help you. Otherwise, just tell a few trusted friends

3. 
    

   Get support!!! Find people who will encourage you and give you advice when you need it. This could be a good friend or an online support community.

4. 
    

   Find another person who is trying to reach the same goal. Like if your goal is to loose weight, find someone else that is trying to loose weight also and "do it together".

5. 
    

   Take baby steps. Break up your larger goal into smaller more reachable goals. Like if you really need to loose 60 pounds, instead of thinking, "I'm going to loose 60 pounds this year", think "I'm going to loose 10 pounds in 2 months." The second goal looks a lot less daunting than the first.

6. 
    

   Journal about your progress (and your failures). Keeping a journal helps you see your successes and the areas you need to improve on.

7. 
    

   Don't scrap your resolutions if you mess up. Say your resolution is to stop biting your nails and right before a big job interview you bite off all your nails that you have been trying to grow for a month. Well, just file them neatly and start again. Or say your goal is to lose 60 pounds and you just ate a whole cake by yourself. Just remember, tomorrow is a new day and start again. Don't give up, just because you messed up. It's an on going process to reach your goals.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't expect miracles! It takes hard work to achieve your goals.
• Pray about it! It helps!
• This is not a guarantee that you will be able to keep your New Year's Resolutions, but if you work hard, then you will have a better chance of success.

[Cherst1031]

on 12/31/2008 Good tips, I think Step 4, find a friend with the same goal, I think that will help me.

[AuntieAndrea]

on 12/27/2008 Great steps, encouraging article about keeping resolutions.

[Susanh]

on 12/23/2008 The support, or accountability, is key! Thanks for the great tips on how to keep your New Year's resolutions.

[sunshine11219]

on 12/22/2008 good tips

[mechelepellebon]

on 12/22/2008 I love step 5..."take baby steps". Thanks for sharing!