Be realistic



A long list of unattainable goals will only set you up for failure. Think carefully about the things you'd like to change, and then choose only one or two of them as your resolutions. Be honest with yourself and strive to choose goals that are attainable and realistic. While resolving to never eat your favorite food again may be an unattainable goal, you could resolve to avoid eating it as often as you do now. Think also about the reason for making the change and only make it your New Years resolution if it will definitely improve your life. There's no point making a resolution that will do you no good.

Make a plan

Now that you've got a goal you need to figure out how to get there. Break the long-term goal into small sub-goals and formulate a plan that indicates how you intend achieving each of these small steps. Rather than emphasizing your long-term goal, which may seem overwhelming at once, consider your short-term goals and what daily changes you need to make to achieve them. Writing down your resolution and your plan will help you to stick to it.

Start your plan immediately

Acting on your plan in the first few days of January will harness your motivation and keep the momentum going. If you let this limited window of opportunity slip by, chances are you will forget about your resolution completely and are unlikely to even get started on it.

New Years Resolutions are not just for New Years day

It is impossible to accomplish all your goals in one day. New Years day should be nothing but the starting point of a new way of life. It's just the day for taking that first step that will lead you to your ultimate goal.

Remain Flexible

Life is full of twists and turns and you're likely to come up against plenty of hurdles along the way. Trying to stick rigidly to your goals no matter what may cause a lot of despair and a feeling a failure. You need to develop a flexible mind-set to navigate these hurdles without losing sight of your goals. Sometimes the goal itself will have to be altered to accommodate some of these life-changing events. Don't think of it as failure. Instead, acknowledge the partial success you have achieved every step along the way. A goal altered is not considered failure; it is just an acceptance of the many intricacies of life.