How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

Every new year I write New Years Resolutions and badger my friends and family to do the same, much to their dismay. What is it about the new year that brings promises of exercise, better eating, paying off debt, being nicer and following goals to a light that was dimmer the year before. I always wonder why 25% of New Years Resolutions will be abandoned in the first 15 weeks. In the past I've made a long list of things that I feared and were also easy to follow. Going to a new state, journaling, and losing weight are always staples on my list.

I have developed a few tips over the years of resolutions for remembering them and keeping them. The first step to writing your resolutions is to think about what you did over the past year. Did you achieve everything you had hoped, and what are things you'd like to continue doing into the New Year? Write those down along with some goals you have for the New Year. Keep them realistic, if you want to lose weight do your research and figure out what steps to take in order to achieve this. The rule here is to not only write down what you want to accomplish, but write down how you plan to accomplish this goal.

Keep your list small and obtainable, a list of 20 or more items could be really hard to stick with or even remember, unless they are small tasks. The average numbers of New Year's resolutions are 10 and keep in mind that those that manage to follow their resolutions have tried 5 to 6 times before finally succeeding. After you have written your resolutions down on paper, type them up and print them out making two copies. There are a few choices you can choice for this. First, keep a copy for yourself and then put another copy in an envelope and give to a close friend or family member to keep and give back to you a year later. You can keep this envelope in a safe place to open a year later to see what you accomplished. Sometimes the original list gets lost within the months of the New Year and its fun to open it up a year later.

If resolutions are not your style, consider writing a letter to yourself a year from now. Include some memories about the previous year and other ones you look forward to in the New Year. After you write the letter, seal it in an envelope and tuck away to be opened a year later. This is also a fun event to do with your family and friends to share every year.

As far as sticking to your resolutions, try to remember that the year is going to pass regardless if you make changes and try new things or not. Also remember that when the year passes no one is going to thank you for not living your life and following your dreams. Keep a check list handy and objectives for following your new goals. It doesn't have to be hard, it should be fun and it can be something to look forward to for years to come!

Follow me in 2007 as I try to keep my new years resolutions.