New Year resolutions

It's time again for New Years resolutions. What are you going to do differently this year to meet your goals? Here are some tips for setting and keeping your resolutions.

• Make your goals realistic. Is a 20 pound weight loss in 3 months realistic for you? Maybe, but are you making lifestyle changes to make it permanent? Make your goals reachable and you are more likely to keep them. After you reach the initial goal, you can set another one.
• Write it down. Tell others your goal and ask them to check up on you. Post your goals where you can see them everyday so you don't forget. If others are asking, you will be more accountable.
• Don't look for a quick fix. Most of our goals are to improve us over the long-term, not just in the next few months. If something sounds too easy or too good to be true, it probably is. Reaching your goal is hard work, don't look for the easy way out.
• Be prepared to change your ways. Once again, our goals help us improve in a permanent way. If you want to lose weight but aren't prepared to change your eating habits or physical activity habits, then you won't be successful. If you want to save more money but aren't prepared to watch your spending habits or cut back, you won't be successful.
• Be specific. When you write down your goal, make sure you specify when, where, how, why, etc. If you want to save more money, give yourself an amount to save each month or an amount to save by a particular date. What are some ways you plan to save or where are you cutting back? Give details.
• Keep a journal. Track your progress, setbacks, and other information. You can look back at this information to find trends when you made great progress or trends when you weren't successful.
• If you don't reach your goal, set a new one. Everyone has setbacks but don't let them make you give up completely. What can you do differently this time around to make sure you reach your goal?
• Enlist the help of others. Did a close friend lose weight by eating less and being more active? Ask them for tips. Find a professional who can give you more assistance.
• Reward yourself if you meet your goal or choose small rewards when you make small progress toward the goal. It can be something simple, but make it similar to your goal.
  
• If you don't want to set a goal of one of the more common resolutions (weight loss, saving money, etc) then pick an area of your life that could use improvement. Everyone has one area where they can improve. Can you be a more effective leader? Spend more time with your children? Develop a better relationship with your neighbors? Think of something you want to improve personally or professionally.