A New Year Brings New Resolutions

The parties are over, the buffet tables are safely stored away and the only signs of cookies are the crumbs left behind. Now that a new year is here our resolutions for 2008 can come in many ways. From vowing to eat healthier to exercising five days a week, to finding a way to detoxify any remaining eggnog we have stored up for the winter. When it comes to our New Year’s resolutions staying positive and realistic can mean the difference of giving up in February or letting them stick for life.

Tips on keeping your New Year’s resolutions

Recent studies have found that the most common resolutions people hope to attain in a new year are: spending more time with family and friends, getting fit, losing weight and quitting smoking. The problem with many of the New Year’s Resolutions is that our commitment wobbles for either lack of motivation or setting unattainable goals. Here are a few tips on getting yourself on the right track.

Tip One: Do it for yourself
Any time you are trying to accomplish something for someone else you may face some motivational challenges down the road. You need to want to do it for yourself, and the payoff will be much more rewarding!

Tip Two: Keep to one resolution instead of too many
Trying to lose weight, go to the gym, start a new business and trying to spend more time with the family may get you overwhelmed quickly and start losing motion for all your goals. Instead go for one goal at a time, once you mastered it move on to your next goal.

Tip three: Choose realistic goals
If you want to lose 15 pounds by March, you may start feeling discouraged after a couple of weeks if you don’t see immediate results. Instead set smaller goals for the year that are more attainable, such as losing five pounds by March, five pounds by June, and another five pounds in September.