Making Successful New Year's Resolutions

The New Year is seen as a time for regeneration, where we can have a fresh beginning. However making and sticking to resolutions, is not always so easy. Many of us make resolutions year after year only to break them a few days later, and give up on them. This article will look at ways to help you pick and achieve your resolutions.

Tips for choosing resolutions

Take time to think about your resolutions
Spur of the moment decisions are less likely to be successful. By taking time to think about what resolutions you want to make, you can explore whether they are right for you, and prepare yourself psychologically.

Choose realistic goals
Try to avoid absolute resolutions, such as ‘I will never do X again’
If you love chocolate, deciding to give chocolate up may not be realistic for you.
Think about whether you can achieve the resolutions. Habits built up over a long time, are not going to be easy to break.
Think about whether you have enough commitment to make that change.
You may want to break your resolutions down into smaller manageable steps. This could be particularly useful if you are making big changes, like wanting to lose weight, getting fit, or changing eating habits.

Don't make too many resolutions at one time
By making lots of resolutions and by giving yourself too much too do, you could be setting yourself up for failure.

Tips for keeping them

One of the main reasons people abandon resolutions is they become discouraged when they don’t get quick enough results, or they don’t feel happier for making the changes.
It takes around 21 days for new activities to become a habit, and 6 months for them to become part of your lifestyle.

Persistence is the key.

Ways to keep on track

· Don’t keep your resolutions to yourself, tell a friend.

· Break them down in smaller steps you can manage

· Keep track of your progress

· Remind yourself of your resolutions throughout the year; writing it down and sticking it in your room may help.

· Make a list of the pro’s and con’s of your resolutions.

· Don’t be afraid to ask for help. With giving up smoking, for example, look at wwwgivingupsmoking.co.uk or ask at your doctors about support available there.

Don’t be too hard on yourself
If you give into temptation, and have a cigarette or miss that aerobics class don’t use it as an excuse to give up altogether. Take credit for your success; don’t look at setbacks as a failure. Instead you could explore the barriers that were in your way, and see how you can do differently next time.
Resolutions are about changing behaviour, and this can be done anytime, not just New Year.

Try saying some Positive Affirmations
Affirmations really do work. Saying affirmations out loud to yourself or posting them up around your home to read regularly can help you feel more positive. Choose from some of these examples or make up your own.

• I have the power to control my health.
• There is plenty of time for everything I need and want to do.
• I am surrounded by loving caring people.
• I am now ready to embrace the changes I want in my life.
• I accept change and I trust in life. I am safe.
• I decide not to live life negatively, I am worthy of a positive life.
• As I say YES to life, life says YES to me.
  

Resolution suggestions

• I will give up smoking
• I will lose some weight
• I will eat fruit and vegetables every day
• I will spend within my means
• I will get out to the countryside (once a week)
• I will cut down my alcohol intake
• I will smile more
• I will take up a new sport/exercise
• I will drink water every day
• I will cut down on junk food
• I will spend more quality time with my friends and family
• I will do some voluntary work
• I will take up a new hobby
• I will have a pampering day for myself once a month
• I will allow myself time to rest and do nothing
• I will learn something new
• I will walk more instead of taking the car
• I will have a non televsion day once a week
• I will be more gentle on myself
• I will challenge negative thoughts, and try to be more positive.

This article is a revised edition of an article that was published in Vitality Matters (a free Cornish Health and Wellbeing magazine) in January 2007.