Simplifying New Year’s Resolutions

New Year’s Resolutions have become a cliché.  Everybody makes them . . . and everybody breaks them!  How many times have you made a solemn vow to yourself on January 1st, only to give up in frustration by January 8th?

Here are an organizer’s guidelines to making New Year’s Resolutions that stick.

  • Make only those resolutions to which you are sincerely committed this year.  By selecting only a few items off of your long-term wish list, you greatly increase your likelihood of success.
  • Make a plan for each of your resolutions.  For example, “Spend more time with my family” is impossible to do unless you figure out which activities you will eliminate from your schedule to create new-found family time.  Think through how you will implement each of your resolutions, then — and this is important — write your plan down.
  • Don’t expect overnight results.  Experts say that it takes three weeks to develop a new habit.  Don’t give up on a resolution until you have tried for at least three weeks to make it a lasting change.
  • Phase them in over the year.  Don’t try and start everything at the beginning of January — you’ll be overwhelmed.  Prioritize your resolutions, and give yourself time to make one set of changes before beginning to implement your next one.
  • Get Organized” is one of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions. If this makes an appearance on your list, I’m here to help!

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2010!

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