Manage Your Muse Musings

How to Keep Those New Year's Resolutions
by Lynn Cutts

Another year arrives, bright with the promise of replacing old habits with new and positive behaviors. All too often, those New Year’s resolutions tarnish and fall by the wayside, leaving behind a feeling of dissatisfaction or disappointment.

Make this the year you change that pattern! New Year’s resolutions are really just good intentions. To create change, you must translate those intentions into an action plan. Follow my guidelines below and give yourself a head start to success.

Don't make that resolution on January 1st! Instead, think about it over the entire month and make your resolution on the 31st. It will have more motivational power and be more realistic that way. It will also be a resolution you "mean," not one you made just because that's what you do at the New Year.

Focus on one small step at a time. Don't bite off more than you can chew. Choose one small action that will lead you toward your goal, do that for three or four weeks, and then increase it or add another. That way you're building on success instead of courting failure.

Have a clear vision of what changing this behavior is going to give you, both short term and in five or ten years. Also have a clear picture of what "not" changing this behavior is going to cost you, short term and long term. When you see the difference in the consequences, you'll be a lot more motivated.

Post a picture, phrase, or affirmation to remind you of your resolution in several places where you can see them regularly throughout the day. Every two weeks, change that reminder. That way, you won't get so used to the picture that you just don't see it any more. Also, by changing the reminder, you're remaking (and strengthening) your commitment to your resolution.

Have a plan. Know what you are going to do - every day - to move you towards that resolution. Don't just decide to go on a diet. Be specific. "I will cut out all snacks in the evening." "I will eat smaller portions."

While you don't want to plan to fail, do plan for "failure." The average person who successfully changes a habit falls off the wagon six times before they finally succeed. So don't give up! Consider backsliding a natural, normal part of the process of changing behavior.

Finally, and I can't emphasize this enough, get support! With outside support, you are seven times more likely to succeed at keeping that resolution. Not only is there someone to cheer you on, to offer a shoulder and to encourage you when you feel stuck, your support buddy will also provide you with accountability.

Make this the year you begin creating the changes you truly desire!