10 Tips for Keeping Your New Year's Resolutions

Once again we are at that time of year when people enthusiastically decide to make changes in themselves or in their lives only to have the enthusiasm die a fleeting and unachieved death. What is it about the New Year that makes us want to make resolutions to change and why do we lose that determination so easily? Usually it's because the coming of the New Year gives us a sense of wanting to begin our lives anew; to start clean and forgive our past mistakes and not make them again. Then, after a short time we begin to realize that nothing is really different, our daily lives are the same as before and we go back to our past way of behaving. The resolutions made with good intentions are forgotten and will be among next years' regrets. So what can you do if you want to keep the enthusiasm and achieve the goals set this New Year? Here are 10 tips to help you be successful and achieve those illusive goals.

1- Live your life with a more positive attitude -

Resolutions are made with a positive attitude and belief that you can achieve what you can achieve what you set out to do. The holiday season brings a change in your activities and helps you to feel change is possible. Then you return to your regular mundane life and easily fall back on past behaviors. A real attitude change with a more positive approach to life will make keeping those resolutions easier.

2- Plan your reward -

Plan to give yourself a realistic gift when you achieve your goal. The gift should be one you can afford and can actually get. A trip to Tahiti might be great but if it's not affordable or possible it's a bad choice for a reward. But a facial or a new golf club just might do the trick.

3- Post the goal so you see it every day -

Maybe you want it to be private or maybe it doesn't matter if others know. That's up to you. But seeing your goal every day will keep it current and help you to renew your determination. Things we see in writing are much more potent than those we keep in our heads. Our busy schedules easily allow us to get caught up in our lives and forget our resolutions. So, write them down and hang them up.

4- Consider including a friend -

This could be good or bad. If you will be encouraging each other then it's great. But what often happens is one of you loses interest and so the other does too. If you are really determined to achieve your resolution set your own goals and charge full steam ahead. If you choose to do this with a buddy make sure your determination is firm and will not be deterred if they quit.

5- Give some thought to the things that might defeat you -

It's important to 'know the enemy'. If you want to stop smoking and your spouse smokes how are you going to handle that? Have your plan in place. If you want to lose weight but the family loves junk food how will you handle that? Make a list of the things that could cause defeat and have a game plan to handle the challenges they present. Being prepared will help you when temptation presents itself.

6- Keep the number of resolutions to a minimum -

It's tempting to make too many resolutions when you are feeling that you want to make real changes in your life. If you succeed in making one change and keeping it you will be far better off than making 3 or 4 resolutions and losing interest in all of them. Real change takes real work. Focus on one issue and save the rest for next year.

7- Make your resolutions when you are sober -

You may not even remember that you made a resolution of you do it while you are intoxicated. But if someone tells you that you made a resolution that you don't remember making because you were in a blackout, a good resolution for you to consider would be to stop drinking,

8- Don't allow a slip to end the resolve -

People don't change without sometimes having a 'lapse'. No one is perfect and the attempt to change an old habit is difficult. So if you make a mistake and lose sight of the goal consider it a momentary slip and start over. Even if you make numerous slips along the way you can still successfully achieve your goal. Keep your eye on the prize.

9- Set interim goals -

Actually achieving the goal may take some time and you want to feel success along the way. Setting interim goals will rejuvenate your enthusiasm and keep you feeling positive. If you are going back to school getting a two year degree will make you feel successful while completing two years at a four years school means very little. Achieving success as you strive to reach your goal makes you feel good about yourself and the journey you are on.

10- You don't need New Years to set goals to change -

If New Years Eve has passed you by and you forgot to make a resolution keep in mind that every day is the first day of the rest of your life and you can begin to make changes in yourself any time. A birthday, anniversary, new job, and new baby - any day can provide the jumping off point to begin again. Just remember - where there's life there's hope!