How Not to Break Your New Year's Resolutions

Here it is again, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day and the new year itself. And what is also here is the troublesome, annoying, yet addictive return of the New Year's resolution. We just cant seem to get away from it. We want things to change but since just changing the name of the year we live in isn't enough, we have to change something about ourselves. It says a lot about the feeling of inadequacy in our American society that we have to do something else to improve ourselves every year. But that's another article for another time.

So, how can we make sure that we actually keep to our New Year's resolutions this year? Well there's no true way. But here are a few tips so that you don't get caught up in your resolutions so much this year.

Do something realistic. Something realistic will be different for every single person. If you work out in the gym weekly or on a regular basis, inside or out, then working out more is realistic for you. Even losing weight would be realistic for you. But if your regular routine consists of you sitting on the couch and watching an Everybody Loves Raymond marathon with a bucket of chicken every day, then you're probably need to start with putting down the bucket and go from there. But don't give up! If you want to exercise, start low. Start with eating only half a bucket of chicken and then go down to no bucket at all.

Speaking of starting low , the next tip is obviously to pace yourself. Don't set any new year's resolution goal at being finished in a week or two and definitely don't think you can achieve your goal in a short time. It really does take work to achieve any goal and if you don't want to make the effort, don't make a resolution. Even learning how to make cheesecake can take a long time. Don't make 6 cheesecakes in one day trying to get the perfect one. Trying one a week for 3 months is probably a better idea. Or a bad idea if you're also trying to lose weight as well. But don't expect to be perfect all at once. Practice makes perfect.

Set a schedule for yourself. Going along with pacing yourself, the first key to success is making a plan. Whether your goal is learning to make a perfect cheesecake or quitting smoking, make a plan. Get out a notepad, write down what you plan to do and in what time frame you plan to do it. Saying it in your head and to your friends is a lot different than actualizing it on pen and paper. When you work your resolution into your daily activities, your work schedule and your children's lives, you'll know it's not just another whimsical thought. Make it a part of your routine and it'll become real then.

Don't let this goal take over your life. In other words, don't take your new years resolution so seriously. I mean quitting smoking and losing weight are definitely a good things but stressing yourself out does not help. Millions of people obsess every year over new years resolutions and the running joke is that they never work. And why? Because people put so much pressure on themselves that they can't make it happen. The first thing to do is realize that family and friends are the most important things in your life. If your resolution will improve your life, then by all means go for it. But make sure that you have your priorities straight.

No one is obligated to make a new year's resolution but if you do, it should be something that is fun but also worthwhile. If it's not good for you, don't do it. And if it's a difficult task, take the time to plan your routine for accomplishing your goal.