Ways to Achieve Your Resolutions This Year!

Pretty much everyone makes new year's resolutions. But how many of us can stick to them? It seems a few months in most of us have ditched our good intentions due to what we perceive as failure or lack of opportunity to help us along. There is hope this year! I am sharing tips that I have gathered to help us all stick to your goals and have a happier new year!

-Break up larger goals into smaller goals.

So say you want to lose 40 pounds this year. Great goal, right? But it might be a bit overwhelming. So break it up. Set your goal to 3 or 4 pounds a month, and keep track that way! Your goal will seem much more attainable!

-Reward yourself for your smaller milestones

Make sure you reward yourself for your mini-goals throughout the year! Did you lose that 4 pounds this month? Great! Go out and treat yourself to something reasonable that you have had your eye on! Make sure it is something you will be able to use frequently to remind you of your success of the prior month.

-Don't go it alone

There are so many online communities that are perfect for support of any type of goal! Why struggle by yourself when you can group up together with others who are working on the same life goals? Support is the most important tool in reaching your goals in life. Try checking www.sparkpeople.com or www.ivillage.com. These are both excellent resources for people to come together and share experiences without a subscription cost.

-Take notes

Keep a purse or briefcase sized journal with you at all times so you can write down your thoughts or anything related to your goals. If you passed up that candy bar, or made it to the gym, write it down. That way you can constantly be reminded of your positive and successful efforts.

-Have inspiration

Do you have a friend or someone who inspires good and healthy behavior in you? Keep them in your thoughts (or a picture of them with you, if they are comfortable with it) to remind you of them. Why do they inspire you? Make a list in your pocket sized journal and refer to it on days when you aren't feeling like working towards your goals.

-Don't get down on yourself

Everyone slips up. They say, on average, a bad (or good) habit takes 12 weeks to break or form. Remember that nobody is perfect, and that every morning is the start of a new day to work towards your goal. Keep all your successful and positive thoughts with you. If you have a hard time doing this, make a positive affirmation toolbox. Take any small box (an old shoebox, or even a small Tupperware box) and fill it with small papers that have positive affirmations on them, like "I am strong and competent." Draw one every morning, and keep it with you throughout the day. Then put it back in the box before you go to bed.

I hope these ideas can help you achieve your goals to have a healthy and happy 2008!