NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS: 10 STEPS TO SUCCESS

It’s that time of year when we all make New Year’s resolutions and have the greatest intention of succeeding.  However, research has shown that 9 out of 10 will fail.  Here are 10 tips that will help make this year different to all the others:-

1. Be realistic:  Set goals you know you have a good chance of achieving.  You are unlikely to stick to an outdoor exercise regime if you hate the cold and the wet – a problem at this time of year! – so choose something you can do indoors.  If you have never been jogging before, a marathon by the summer may not be the best choice.  A 5km run would be a better goal to aim for and you would be much more likely to run it comfortably and in a good time.
2. Think long-term:  One of the reason for failure is that we expect results in too short a time.  Be patient.  If you want to lose 6kgs, plan to lose 1/2kg per month so that by the end of the year you will have reached your target with relative ease. 
3. One at a time:  If you resolve to lose weight, take up exercise, stop eating chocolate, drinking and smoking, you will probably achieve none of these goals.  Focus on one resolution, which brings us on to
4. Plan ahead:  You may well want to achieve more than one goal this year, but do one a month, or every other month, starting with the easiest.  Once you have turned this change to your life into a habit, try the next one and so on.
5. Community spirit:  Try getting someone else to join you, whether it is improving your eating habits, exercising, losing weight, etc.  You are more likely to stick to your regime and you can motivate one another.
6. Spread the word:  Tell everyone what you are planning on doing so that they can support you.  If you are trying to stop eating chocolate or cakes, let people know so that they don’t buy you any. 
7. Be consistent:  Decide on times and days to exercise.  If you wait until you have time you will never do it.  You also need to do something regularly and for long enough to enable it to become a habit.
8. Write a plan:  Split your plan into the 12 months or whatever reasonable, realistic time scale you have in mind.  Start at the end of the year and write down what you hope to have achieved by then.  Each month endeavour to  give up one negative and take on one positive, eg, for January, no more crisps and start your exercise programme; in February, half a bar of chocolate and increase your intake of water, etc.  Make a list of all the little changes you want to make and divide them up.  Start when you are mentally prepared.
9. Don’t give up:  If you have a bad week, there are another 51 in the year!  We all have them: holidays, Christmas, feeling low, etc.  Adjust your plan if necessary.
10. Keep a diary:  Record your progress so that you can see how far you have come and celebrate your successes!

New Years Resolutions: Make a long term plan and ensure success

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