4 tips to keep your New Year's Resolution on track

(As heard on Calvary 88.5 FM January 5, 2010)

Now that you've made a good solid New Year's Resolution (NYR), you're ready to go, right? Well, 78% of NYR are doomed to fail according to a 2008 study on adherence conducted by psychologist Richard Wiseman. So what can you do to make sure you are in the 22% of people to achieve their New Year’s Resolution? Below are some helpfull and simple ways to take you to the finish line.

1. Tell the world. This is an important step in the road to NYR victory. Tell your friends, co-workers, family, even the cashier at the grocery store that you are vowing to quit smoking, lose 10 pounds, or get to the gym 4 days a week. When your will wanes, the peer pressure that you’ve created for yourself will help you keep on track.
2. Be positive. Ever heard of the Little Engine that Could? With his mantra of “I think I can, I think I can I think I can..” he accomplished his goals. Even though the mountain was steep and took a lot of hard work, he kept positive with his eye on the prize.
3. Become a journalist. No, not the kind that goes out and gets “the scoop,” but the kind that writes everything about your progress in a journal. Studies show that people who keep a running tab on their progress are 50% more likely to succeed at their goal than those who do not. It doesn’t have to take much time…just a sentence or two each day (that’s like 15 seconds of your time). For example: I went to the gym today, lifted weights for 25 minutes and ran for 30 minutes on the treadmill. Weight today: 175…I’ve lost 2 more pounds!
4. Don’t be your own worst enemy. Many times, people fall off the NYR bandwagon because they experience a set back. Maybe they missed a session with their trainer, had a cigarette at a party or ate half a pan of brownies. No matter what your goal is, you will experience a relapse from time to time. Write it down in your journal and then move on. No beating yourself up…just get back on track.

So there you have it. Now go and make yourself proud!

Remember, your NYR should be flexible. If you start working on a goal and find that there might be a better goal or better way to achieve your goal, then change it. Happy resolution keeping!