How to Make New Year's Resolutions Work for You!

All of us aspire to be better people. New Year's Resolutions are a way to do that. But what most people don't know is that they have been doing them all wrong. Here's how to set a resolution and really stick to it.

First of all, you need to pick a resolution. Popular ones include: lose weight, stop smoking, drink less, and spend more time with the family. But these are too generic and not specific enough. You need to really buckle down and zone in on what exactly you want to accomplish. For example, if you want to lose weight, you might say, "I want to lose twenty pounds by my birthday." Other examples might be: "I want to reduce my drinking to one night a week," or even, "I want to pick one hour one evening a week spent on something my daughter wants to do."

After you pick your resolution and make it specific, you need to double check that it is realistic, attainable. For example, you wouldn't choose to lose fifty pounds in two weeks or stop smoking by tomorrow - cold turkey. You have to know what you are capable of and what you can do in the time you have.

Okay, so now you have a resolution and it's specific and realistic...now what? You have to hold yourself to it. A journal or notebook is a great way to hold yourself accountable for achieving your resolution. Think of your resolution like a goal. Goals are more fluid, not as concrete as a resolution. They allow you some "give." This will help with the failure factor that resolutions typically are infamous for. In the notebook or journal, plot out exactly you want to accomplish day-by-day. For example, you may want to write down what you are going to cut out of your diet - say soda - and you will walk after work for thirty minutes. Again, make these daily goals realistic. You will be less likely to give up if you know it's something you can do.

Lastly, get some support. It's too hard to do everything on our own. Nowadays, there are supportive websites for everything. Join a free weight loss forum. Set a weekly date at the gym with a friend. Tell your daughter about your resolution to spend time with her during a specific time a week and she'll be there - board game in hand. You will be less likely to flake out on following through with your goals if you have someone depending on you.