How to Keep Your New Years Resolution

How to Keep Your New Years Resolution
We make New Years Resolutions every year.
Does this sound familiar about your past resolutions?
1. They were too unrealistic
2. You got discouraged
3. You realized you didn't really want do it

2013 is the year to change your life! It's time to be successful. The only way to be successful: Build your resolution into a habit.

When you do something for 28 days it becomes a habit. Those first 28 days will be extremely hard if your new activity is very different from your previous lifestyle.

After 28 days it will be harder not to do your new activity than it is to quit it.

1. Pick something you really are motivated to do.
I hear so many people tell me about all the things they want to do. Maybe they are only saying it because others have told them that they need to do it, but its not internalized. They even seem sincere, but deep down they aren't really convinced that their resolution is needed in their life. Change only happens when you are convinced that the old way of living is unacceptable. The tipping point must have been past or you won't do it.

2. Be specific.
Have specific goals with dates. A goal without specifics is a dream. If its losing weight, pick a target weight and a date. if its cutting down on drinking, then pick a target amount and a date. If its getting into grad school use the application date minus a buffer as your end date.

3. If its not an activity, make it one.
Spend time breaking your goal into several reoccurring or one time occurring activities. If you goal is get into a masters degree program, you'll have steps to take like researching the entry requirements, studying for the GRE, applying. If you want to lose weight, decide which activities you want to use:running, biking, yoga, making meals at home. If its saving money, maybe its what activities you shouldn't do, or replacements like instead of going out to the movies, you'll watch a netflix movie.


4. Build the activity into your schedule.
Examine your schedule. Find slots where you can put in the activities. If its reoccurring, then make it reoccurring. If you're using a calendar like google calendar this is very easy. If its one time steps, put them into places where you can focus and not get distracted.

5. Find others to hold you accountable.
Find one or more friends who will text you, call you, message you and make sure your on track. Be honest with them and let them help you with encouragement and forgiveness. If they can join you in activities then involve them.


We use New Years Resolutions to make our lives more the way we want them to be. Using these steps will help you be more successful.

Good Luck!!