Most of us really do mean to keep our New Year's resolutions. Making them is the easy part, but keeping them can be just as easy if you follow a few basic rules when you make your resolutions for 2012.
- Be specific - It's one thing to say "I will lose weight," but a more effective statement would be "I will lose 20 pounds by April 1st." By simply adding specifics like the amount of weight and the date you want to lose it by, you make your goal more real and attainable.
- Chunk your goals - Once you have that specific goal, break it into manageable chunks. Our weight goal, for example, can be broken down into four, 5 pound a month goals. You can chunk down as much as you like, but don't get bogged down by the details.
- Vary the difficulty - If every resolution seemed like climbing Mt. Everest, your chance of success decreases. Mix in a few goals that are more easily attained, like "clean out the hall closet," or "take down the Christmas decorations before Valentine's Day," because small successes have a big feel-good factor.
- Keep it positive - phrase all your resolutions in a positive manner to keep pushing the power of positive thinking. Use "I will do such-and-such," instead of "I won't do blah-blah-blah."
- Dangle the carrot - add perks to your resolutions as a motivational carrot, so there is something you won't get if you don't follow through. Our weight loss goal perk might be something like a new pair of earrings, or that new pair of sunglasses you've been wanting.
- Buddy up for success - find someone that shares your resolution and team up to keep each other on track and accountable. Going to the gym might be more fun with a friend, right?
- Write it down - there is much power in the written word, so document your intentions on paper, and leave them where you can see them every day. Goals work best when they are in the front of your mind, not in the dusty recesses of your memory.
These seven little rules don't just apply to New Year's resolutions - you can use them for any type of goalsetting or project planning. Use them faithfully, and you may find yourself needing a whole new set of resolutions for the next year, instead of recycling the same old ones over again. Success and good luck to you in 2012!
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