As the New Year gets under way, I’m often asked whether I’ve made any New Year’s Resolutions.  Over time, I’ve discovered 6 sure tips for making a resolution that sticks.

1) Write it down. When I write something down the odds are much better I actually mean it so I’ll write this year’s resolutions down on a piece of paper and sign my name right under each one of them.

2) Share resolutions with a friend. The more committed I am to a resolution the greater the chance I’ll do it.  I’ve discovered that sharing my resolutions with a close friend or significant other is just as important as writing it down.

3) Be specific. The surest way to give up on a resolution is not be specific enough in the first place.  If I plan to put aside some money this year, instead of saying, “I plan to save money,” I’ll want to get more specific.  I might say, “I plan to save $60 a month every month with the goal of ending up with $720 at the end of the year.  I might take it even further: “I will set up my checking account to automatically transfer $60 into savings at the beginning of every month, the day I get my paycheck.

Hmm...I resolve to eat less junk algae this year.

4) Don’t make too many resolutions. Whenever I overwhelm myself with too many things to do, it’s harder to achieve any of them.  That’s why I set a limit of 4 or 5 resolutions max.  If you’ve never stuck to a resolution before, try doing just one.

5) Make resolutions achievable. The surest way for me to fail is create a resolution I can’t possibly achieve in the first place.  If I want to lose 30 pounds, I better have some certainty I can lose that much in a given time frame.  Since I haven’t done a lot of dieting on my own, my best course might be to do some research on weight loss first.  Then, when I decide I know enough, I can set an achievable goal.  For example, “I plan to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week for ten weeks (i.e. 10 to 20 pounds) and will adjust my calories after ten weeks to maintain my new weight.

6) Celebrate a win. When I make a resolution and then fail to recognize the moment I’ve achieved it, I’ve missed out on an important personal victory.  This means a part of my resolution should set out the conditions for celebrating my win.  If I hope to lose 10 or 20 pounds in ten weeks, I should decide up front how I might celebrate.  For example, I might decide I’ve earned a shopping trip for a new pair of pants or a trip to my favorite restaurant.  I could also share my win with a friend.

In reality, resolutions are just goals we set at the beginning of a new year, which means they don’t have to be big or scary.  It’s helpful to think that with each New Year we start with a blank slate and can achieve something better.  Do you plan to make any resolutions this year?  What’s worked for you in the past?  Why not share in a comment below.

By Bob Anderson
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