| I like New Year's resolutions. Recently, though, I've seen | | | | let it go -- reschedule it immediately. Your momentum |
| some bad press about them. Some say New Year's | | | | depends on regularly taking a candid look at how |
| resolutions are useless, others say they're even | | | | you're doing. |
| harmful as we set ourselves up for failure with | | | | Tip #5: Upgrade often. Every time you check your |
| grandiose plans that we can never follow through on. | | | | progress, consider upgrading to the next level. Have |
| I beg to differ! New Year's resolutions can be | | | | you accomplished your goal for the day or week? |
| extremely effective in jumpstarting and helping us | | | | Has it become too easy? Keep challenging yourself! |
| reach our goals. The trick to New Year's resolutions | | | | Tip #6: Be specific. Vague resolutions like "start living a |
| that really work is in how you use them. | | | | healthier lifestyle" are hard to keep. A specific goal like |
| Parents of children with special needs face unique | | | | "eat a fresh veggie every night with dinner" is much |
| challenges in making and keeping New Year's | | | | more doable. Practice a specific action until it's a |
| resolutions. Life can be unpredictable when you have a | | | | regular part of your life, and when it gets easy for you, |
| child with special needs -- often, no two days are the | | | | upgrade to a new, specific goal. |
| same, making it hard to stick to a routine. Does your | | | | Tip #7: Make it fun. Use your imagination!If there's any |
| resolution require quiet time? How do you avoid being | | | | way at all you can infuse your goals with some humor, |
| interrupted? Have you resolved to have more of a | | | | fun, anything that will make you smile or laugh, definitely |
| social life, take a class, or get out for exercise? | | | | do it! The human mind learns much faster and more |
| Invariably, it seems those are the times when you're | | | | thoroughly when fun is associated with the task. |
| needed at home. | | | | Tip #8: Make yourself accountable. Can you report |
| But don't be discouraged. You CAN make resolutions | | | | back to a friend or loved one each week on how |
| that get results, even with all the demands on your | | | | you're doing? Would it help to make a chart or |
| time and energy. The secret, any time you make a | | | | checklist and keep it where you'll see it often? Is there |
| resolution, is to set yourself up for success. How? | | | | a support group you could join? Do you know |
| Let me share with you some of my life coaching tips | | | | someone who's working on the same goal as you? |
| for making resolutions you can stick with throughout | | | | There are lots of possibilities here. |
| this entire year, so that on January 1st, 2009, you can | | | | Tip #9: Write it down. Never underestimate the power |
| look back at what you accomplished, be proud, and | | | | of the written word - especially when you're the one |
| ask yourself: "Now what shall my next resolution be?" | | | | doing the writing. Make little progress notes in a |
| Tip #1: Make only one or two resolutions. No doubt | | | | notebook. Write in a journal about how it feels to be |
| there are many more things you'd like to accomplish. | | | | working towards your resolution. Send e-mails to |
| But if you could only choose one or two, what would | | | | yourself once a week to chronicle your progress. |
| those be? | | | | Choose a word or phrase to keep yourself going, and |
| Tip #2: Make mini-resolutions. Long-range planning is | | | | post it on sticky-notes wherever you may need a |
| not our forte as human beings. Instead of thinking | | | | boost. There are probably a hundred ways to use |
| about the whole year, decide what you can do each | | | | writing as a powerful tool to help you keep reaching |
| day or each week toward your goal. This is like a | | | | your goals. |
| bunch of little mini-resolutions. Think of them as "New | | | | Tip #10: Have patience. You may have heard that |
| Day's resolutions" or "New Week's resolutions," within | | | | building a new habit takes 28 days. Sometimes it can |
| your overall New Year's resolution. | | | | take even longer. If you experience a setback in your |
| Tip #3: Make your resolutions highly doable. | | | | progress toward your New Year's goal, don't be |
| Remember, you're setting yourself up for success. | | | | disheartened. The sooner you pick up where you left |
| Start with baby steps -- things you know you can do | | | | off, the easier it will be to get back on track. |
| in a day or week. Don't worry, you can progress to | | | | Bonus tip: Celebrate your successes! Every so often, |
| more challenging steps as you go along. You've got a | | | | reward yourself for a job well done. Committing to a |
| whole year! Don't lose your motivation by plunging in full | | | | New Year's resolution is a big step. It's an even bigger |
| tilt, trying to tackle the whole thing now, only to become | | | | challenge to follow through. When you make progress |
| discouraged when you don't immediately accomplish | | | | toward your goal, give yourself the recognition you |
| what you've set out to do. | | | | deserve! |
| Tip #4: Plan frequent check-backs. At the end of each | | | | Try these ideas and watch your momentum build, day |
| day or week, schedule time when you'll check your | | | | by day, week by week, month by month. By the end |
| progress. When I say schedule, I mean actually write it | | | | of the year, you'll amaze yourself at what you've |
| on your calendar as an important appointment that you | | | | accomplished! |
| can't miss. And if you do miss this appointment, don't | | | | |