http://www.care2.com/greenliving/10-ways-to-make-a-resolution-stick.html
10 Ways to Make a Resolution Stick
By Ariane de Bonovoisin, First30Days.com
Making the resolutions are easy–making them stick? Not so much. Here are 10 tips to help you keep your resolutions:
1. Write it down. Putting pen to paper is a great way to clarify what it is you want to accomplish. You can use a journal or just write a sentence on an index card that you tape to your mirror.
2. Manage expectations. It’s OK to break your resolution in the first week, you just have to be willing to get back on the horse. For many, January just isn’t the right time. Start fresh in March, or June.
3. Get a buddy to do it with you. Everyone knows it’s easier to do things with a partner–grab a friend or family member and work on your resolutions together.
4. Revisit it. You’re going to have to review and revise your goals as you go throughout the year.
5. Be SMART. Rather than just toss off a non-specific resolution, set a SMART goal. These goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and timely. If your goals have measurable and specific ends, you’ll meet them more easily.
6. Don’t remove, add. Replace bad habits with good ones. Framing your resolution positively will make you more likely to want to meet it!
7. Make it public. Tell people what you’re up to, you’ll be more likely to stick to it.
8. Stick to a schedule. If you plan to exercise more, for instance, build no less than three workouts into your calendar at a time when you know you’ll be able to actually do it.
9. Create a vision board. It might sound hokey, but having a visual representation of your goals can really help! Cut out images and phrases from magazines, write out your favorite inspiring quote, grab some photos. Place them all on a poster or corkboard and keep them in plain view.
10. Celebrate! The joy in resolutions is in the journey. Accept that this will be an ongoing process and celebrate yourself and your unique experiences. And if you don’t quite get there, there’s always 2010!
For more ways to change positively in the new year, visit www.first30days.com
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Yeah!Go resolutions!
I hope I'll be able to achieve mine this year.:)
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This year, I challenge myself to stick with my exercise/healthy eating habits. Weight loss is slow, but slow and steady wins the race!! I will also learn to be a better friend to myself, to not spend so much time worrying about other people's problems...especially the ones that don't wish to resolve their own. I'm going to learn more Gaelic this year and plan for a trip to Ireland/Scotland in 2012 (turning 50, and 30th wedding anniversary gift my husband and I are giving ourselves!).
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I know that this year is filled with blessings waiting to be discovered. My goals are spending more time with my friends, get into school! Finally! pay as much as I can to my credit card, going back to the gym, and learn a new language! And keep my ongoing wonderful,happy and HEALTHY love life. :)
Hope that everyone gets to do what they plan this year!!
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I made it very easy on myself....My resolution for 2009 is to expose child molesters in my local area....
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please help
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this year im going to look foward and let the hurt and the past of 2008 go.to believe in myself as a good person,and get back out in the world.to live for today and not to worry about tomorrow or yesterday.to ask god to keep on helping me and to keep me going.my mam always said ,any day your above ground is a good day and no matter what ails you she was right .so hello 2009 and hello to the new me ,lets face it together.as they say bring it on annie
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My resolutions are to lose weight and not to hold on too tightly to anyone project.
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Live for today---not yesterday or tomorrow but today! We all get so wrapped up in either the past or what lies ahead that we can not see what is right in front of us.
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Never found any appeal or sense in date-related "resolutions". When I decide to so - or stop doing - something, I do/stop doing it NOW, whenever that is. It's immensely liberating.
Of course, I am genuinely glad for anyone who does find "New Year resolutions" helpful. ;)
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