Ten Tips for Making New Year's Resolutions Work

Dear Readers,
Happy New Year to all! With the arrival of 2010, many of us will make New Year’s resolutions and cross our fingers that we can stick with them past January. Here are my 10 tips for making your resolutions successful.
1.Pick one thing to change. Making too many resolutions will set you up for failure.
2.Avoid making previously failed resolutions, if at all possible.
3.Decide to do something that you feel is important. Thinking you should make a change won’t give you the necessary commitment.
4.Make your resolution realistic. Trying to lose 50 pounds in the next two months is probably not going to happen. Resolving to lose 50 pounds in 2009 and breaking it down into smaller goals on a calendar can set you up for success.
5.Write your resolutions on paper. Committing your resolution to print can increase your determination.
6.Tell everyone in your support network. Enlist their aid in meeting your goals. You could even write a check to a loved one they can cash if you fail to keep your resolution.
7. Post your goal online at a site like Pledgehammer.com for extra support.
8. Plan for problems. What will you do when obstacles arise, as they surely will? Have a plan of action in place for these moments.
9. Visualize success. Each night before going to bed, imagine achieving your goal in as much detail as possible. If you want to lose weight, imagine how that would fee, what you would look like and so forth.
10. Reward yourself for each tiny step forward. If you’re trying to quit smoking, reward yourself each time you resist temptation.
Cheers to a safe, prosperous and happy new year for everyone!