(Here’s an article I found in the newspaper.)
Surefire Plan To Keep Resolutions
I will stop biting my nails.
I will stop eating chocolate.
I will quit smoking.
Sound familiar? You’ve likely made resolutions like these in years past. And like most people, you make the same resolutions year in and year out, only to return to the same old habits two week later.
Anyone can make New Year’s resolutions. But the hard part is sticking to them. To help you follow through with your goals, follow this plan:
Write it down
Record what you want to achieve and why. Each day, write down your progress toward your goal. That way, you’ll be able to keep yourself in check.
Tell a friend
Don’t try to achieve the goal on your own. Tell a friend or two who will support and encourage you along the way. The more people there are who know about it, the higher your likelihood is for success.
Seek resources
Read a book, visit some websites, join a support group, seek counseling, take a course. All these resources will give you the support you need so you don’t have to go through it alone.
Remind yourself
Visual cues will help you stay focused. Wrap a loose rubber band around your finger. Post a picture on the refrigerator. Creative reminders will help keep you on target.
Stay positive
Negative thinking will get you nowhere. Don’t beat yourself up if you make a mistake or are taking a little longer than you thought to achieve your goal. Instead, focus on your success and happiness.
Don’t overextend yourself
In short, don’t make too many resolutions at one time. Instead, focus on one, maybe two goals that you strongly want to accomplish.
Plan
Think about how you will achieve your goals, and plan for them accordingly.
If you want to give up your morning doughnut, keep cereal on hand for breakfast instead.
Set realistic goals
Make resolutions you can really attain. Break them down into small steps and assess what steps can be taken to reach those goals.
Achieve goals slowly
You don’t have to give up smoking and coffee on the same day. Take small steps over the course of time.
Remain flexible
Don’t just give up on a resolution if it isn’t working. Modify it. If you can’t exercise five times a week, try to exercise three times a week.
It’s OK to make adjustments to your resolution as long as you still stick with it.