Success Strategies for Your 2005 Resolutions

By
Laurel A. Sills

1. Always Learn from your past mistakes. If you set goals that failed, look at what went wrong and why? Decide what you did or did not do to achieve what you set out to do. Use this evaluation to create solutions and go forward.
   
2. Make your goals very measurable and specific. Vague goals are hard to reach. State your goals in specific measurable actions and results. For example, if you want to lose weight, set a goal of losing weight by the next month or so. Plan to do three days of exercise a week for 20-30 minutes and to practice healthier eating and lifestyle changes. Do not say, "I must lose 20 lbs. by February 14 or else I am a screw-up."
   
3. Watch for all-or-nothing thinking. For example, don't say, "I will work out for an hour today" and decide that you should not work out at all when your time gets crunched if you CAN still do 20 minutes. Doing some part of your goal is better than nothing.
   
4. Create small daily successes. Constant progress towards your goals is a good reward for create new habits. Shape yourself towards healthy habits that reach your goals.
   
5. Focus on the process. Be aware of the thoughts and actions that go into achieving your goals not just on the end result. It is the journey that counts as much as the destination.
   
6. Be kind to yourself. Only use encouraging self-talk. Self-respect leads to better choices. How can I love myself better? What do I need to do to take care of myself? What is a healthy choice for me right now?
   
7. Listen to your internal self-chatter. Negative self-talk does nothing but discourage you. Ask yourself how what you tell yourself makes you feel. If you feel discouraged, stop it. Talk to yourself like you would guide an innocent child.
   
8. Take the words, "I can't" out of your vocabulary. Tell yourself you CAN. Turn your weaknesses into strengths. Challenge yourself to call more friends, walk faster, read more pages, do a minute more of cardio, sell one more item this month. If you are disorganized, set smaller goals to accomplish and prove to yourself that you can.
   
9. Have fun! Do things you enjoy doing. More leisure time. More family time. Find activities you like for exercise rather than just the gym i.e. dancing, skiing, swimming, soccer, rollerblading, yoga, basketball, etc. Put on your favorite music or listen to educational tapes while working.
   
10. Celebrate your progress. Track your goals on paper and feel good about your success.