Get to It: Make Your New Year's Resolutions Early

For the last five years I made the same New Year's resolutions. Each January I promised to take better care of myself - eat healthier, consume less caffeine, find time to exercise and de-stress, spend more time doing activities that energize me. By February, I would reason that white chocolate mochas are good for me, that I have plenty of time to kick the junk food addiction, that I will get the much-needed sleep when I'm dead.

As the end of this year nears, I am again reminded of everything I failed to do this year. If the definition of insanity is repeating the same action and expecting different results, then I am certifiable. So this time, I am trying something different. I'm making my New Year's resolutions now. I offer these reasons to encourage you to join in.

Take the time to writer and re-write your list. Start your resolution list today. Write down (or copy last year's) goals as they relate to your life. Consider the first draft your "impossible" list. Knowing what you wish to accomplish next year, keep your resolutions in mind as you go through a week or two of your life. Look at the list again. How do the resolutions look now? Take the time to prioritize and re-write your list. Come January, you won't feel so overwhelmed.

Which brings me to my second point. Getting a head start makes facing your resolutions less overwhelming. Lets be honest. January 1 is not the ideal time to start anything - you are just getting over the holiday madness and facing a long to do list is the last thing you want to deal with.

Now that you have prioritized your resolutions, take a sneak peak at that list and ask yourself, What can I start early? If your goal is to improve your eating habits, start making small changes now. By January, you'll feel less overwhelmed by the overhaul of your entire pantry.

In the spirit of overhauling, remind yourself that most resolutions are in fact desired lifestyle changes. A lot of factors have to be in alignment for your resolutions to be successful. Getting started early gives you a chance to recruit cheerleaders. Before you even get started, take the time to tell some of the important folks in your life what you intend to be up to come January.

To accomplish some of the items on your list, you'll need support and encouragement, maybe even a partner in crime (you'll be surprised how many of us share resolutions). Share your resolutions, and your whys behind them. It's cliché, but, in February, as your resolve wears off a bit, you'll be glad to have someone remind you why what you set out to do is important.

Not convinced to get started yet? Just think. With your resolutions done early, you'll have more time for fun things, like holiday shopping...for yourself, of course.