How to stick to new year’s goals

Happy New Year everyone!

When you read this, it will be a few weeks into January 2012, which is often the time that we all begin to teeter-totter on our New Year’s resolutions.

I actually prefer to call resolutions “goals,” because resolutions for some reason just don’t end up working for people. I also believe that one or two goals are often all you need to get a jump-start on the new year.

A great question to ask yourself is: “What do I want in 2012?” Keep it simple, and whether it’s more healthy eating and fitness, weight loss, getting started on that novel, taking some singing or dancing lessons, starting a new business, learning to play the violin or just some personal fulfilment, begin by writing it down to make it happen.

If it’s writing a book, commit to the outline and a few chapters by a certain date. A good friend, Nancy, just told me that she is doing a five-kilometre run in February to prepare for a longer 10-kilometre run on Mother’s Day. That is a fantastic way to approach a bigger project – just break it up into tiny parts.

So what are the things that trip people up the most when it comes to resolutions? Well, to start with, we make too many of them. Choose just one or two really good ones. And if you want to lose weight, make it specific. Write down, “I want to lose 20 pounds” and then give it a realistic date. Partnering with someone can be very powerful, whether it’s a friend, partner or life coach.  Write down exactly how you want to achieve your goal. So if it’s weight loss, you may want to join a gym or hire a personal trainer until you achieve your goal weight. Keep a journal or diary and tick off each accomplishment as you achieve it.

What also gets in the way for people, in addition to being too vague about their goals, is letting your inner critic stand in your way, with comments like this: “Who are you kidding?” So just silence that inner gremlin and keep on going! 

I can’t emphasize enough how much it helps to have a friend or loved one work with you on your goal. Two friends losing weight together or doing a fitness program can be even more successful. Choose someone close to you, whether it’s a friend or a professional, to help you finally accomplish what you wish for, whether it’s a dream to write and star in a movie or to organize your closets and cupboards and make your physical environment more pleasing and enjoyable.

Make sure to do something toward your goal every day, even if it’s just the tiniest action. So, this sometimes could be as simple as visualizing your goal, making a phone call or doing some research around your goal, or even just clipping a magazine photo that reminds you of what you are wishing for. Please e-mail me with your goals for the new year. I’d love to hear from you.

I want to wish you all a Happy, Healthy, Loving and Fulfilling New Year! And finally, as comedian Joey Adams says: “May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions.”

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