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See How Easily You Can Succeed with Your New Year's Resolutions
By Cindy Posey | December 31, 2007
Do you like to beat the odds? I do. In comparing multiple polls and years of surveys, I found that anywhere from 88% to 92% of resolutions made will be broken, with half of the people quitting by the end of January. Let’s be the 8% to 12% that make our New Year’s Resolutions a reality in 2008.
What is a New Year’s Resolution?
New Year’s Resolutions are popular because the New Year is recognized globally as a new beginning. It’s a simple starting line for people to relate too. When the ball drops in Times Square, the celebrations around the country are filled with new hopes, dreams, and ideas on what’s to come. In reality, it is another day and old habits quickly gain ground as people face their jobs and lives at home.
What’s really fascinating about the blogosphere is that we are attuned to this common denominator. A great majority of bloggers are writing about New Year’s Resolutions–even the bah-humbug, I don’t believe kind. Bloggers accept the challenge to create and succeed in the New Year. What does this mean for you? A large network of cyberfriends are ready to propel you beyond the initial excitement of January 1st. We are here to turn your one year goal into a reality. You can do that easily! Let’s look at what will make your New Year’s Resolutions a success in 2008.
Requirements
1. Selection: Is your goal specific and achievable in a one year period? All too often, the resolutions made are too general. Here’s an example, “I am going to be healthy this year?” What does that mean? If you eat an apple are you healthy? If you eat a piece of pie, have you already doomed yourself to a failed resolution? Here’s an example of a specific, achievable resolution, “By the end of the year, I will incorporate five vegetables and four fruit servings into my daily diet.” The key is that you don’t plan on making the change immediately. You will take the full year to change your habits to make the resolution a success.
2. Prioritize: Is it feasible to achieve ten to twenty large scale resolutions in one year? No. Focus on establishing two to three one year goals. Each goal should incorporate a different aspect of your life, so that you are not attempting to change all your life habits in one year. When you focus your energy into one long term goal, then you are able to manage your changes in behavior.
3. Desire: Do YOU really want to make the change? With a sincere desire to achieve your goal, you will overcome the stumbling blocks and challenges when the going gets tough. The stimulus to maintain momentum comes from your mind. You are the only person that you need to convince. If you are not on board with the resolution, then you will become your biggest enemy. The mind is powerful and will win be victorious in almost all instances!
4. Action: Write your plan now! Identify the smaller benchmarks necessary to reach your end result. Throughout the year, you need to have smaller goals that lead to your final year success. Set up a time line that takes into account your lifestyle. Habits are established in 30 to 45 days.
5. Perseverance: Be prepared for a long-term commitment to succeed. You are creating a goal that is meant to take a year to accomplish. The unexpected will happen along the way. By adapting your plan as the year progresses, you will be able to work around “whatever happens.”
6. Affirmations: A goal you create today or tomorrow needs to be repeated daily. When you choose to say your goals is up to you, but set aside a few minutes each day to repeat goals to yourself!
7. Visualize: Every evening before you go to bed, place yourself in the position of having achieved your goal. Your mind is your most powerful tool to making goals a success. During the visualization, create a picture that uses all your senses–make the end result a real experience.
8. Confidence: Believe in Yourself and your ability to succeed.
The glamor associated with New Year’s Resolutions is unnecessary. We are not creating grand 10 or 20 year life plans. This is easy! With these eight tips in mind, what New Year’s Resolutions are you prepared to make for 2008?
I look forward in being a part of your successful journey in achieving your 2008 goals. Come here for support and to receive a boost in confidence and renewed focus.
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I am not a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. If you are going to resolve to do something, why not resolve the moment you think of it and why wait? The new year is also a horrible time for most people especially who make fitness resolutions due to the poor weather outside in a good chunk of the world.
If you are going to make them, though, this is certainly a good checklist to go down.