Tara Halbritter

Every year you tell yourself you’re going to keep your so-called resolution. Many popular choices for bettering oneself during the New Year include exercising, eating more healthful foods, quitting smoking, quitting drinking or keeping your room clean.

Whatever you decide to change about yourself in the year to come, make sure you are able to keep your goals and turn yourself into the person you want to be. Otherwise, before you know it, it will be February and you’ll have forgotten all about your goals.

Set realistic goals

Make sure that your goal is an attainable one. You can still reach for the stars, just be practical. If you want to lose weight, set a reachable goal, but one that you’ll still need to work for.

Don’t try to lose 30 pounds in a month and make sure that your goal weight is healthy.

Write down your goals

Writing down your goal is a very important step to ensuring you will succeed in your endeavor. You can write it on a piece of paper, a napkin or you could write it in lipstick on your mirror. Seeing these reminders of your goal help you build confidence and may aid in denying temptations that may get in the way of your progress.

Work to achieve your goals

Time and effort should be put into achieving your desired goal. If your goal is to exercise three times a week, make a schedule that you are able to keep every week and KEEP IT!

However, reaching your goal should never interfere with study time or any prior engagements you might have, such as a job or club meeting. Serious effort should be involved in achieving your individual goal. Don’t slack off.

Keep a journal

Jotting your goal down is simple. Making sure you keep up on your progress is another story. Keeping a journal may be the key to reaching your goal in fashionable time. Write an entry every night analyzing your progress. Doing this may guide you in accomplishing your set goals.

Depend on others for help

There are several different measures you could take in depending on others for help. If you plan to quit drinking, a support group may be the route to explore. However, sometimes a “buddy” support system is more practical. If you want to quit smoking or start exercising, it may be best to let a friend monitor and support you. In some cases, maybe they can join you.

Reward/punish yourself

Reinforcements for good behavior can serve as incentive during your journey. If you plan to keep your room clean, and are successful for a whole week, reward yourself with a new hot guy/girl poster to accent your clean room. On the other hand, you should be hard on yourself when you break the rules or conveniently fall asleep watching television right before your scheduled workout. When something like this occurs, it is important that you make it up to yourself for slacking off.

Indulge in encouraging

reading material

Reading about others’ similar experiences while you are going through your own helps you to realize that your goal is attainable and that others have been through the same thing. Magazines, self-help books and the Internet are just a few sources you could utilize in your pursuit to success.

Look ahead

No matter how horrible it may seem now, you’ll grow accustomed to your new and improved behavior. Your efforts will definitely pay off in the end!