Happy New Year’s 2009!

As we start another new year, it is an excellent time to think about resolutions for living better.  I want you to live better and by making resolutions that actually work you can progress on your path to living better.  In this article I will offer some tips for making resolutions.  In a follow-up I will detail my own resolutions and then check back in later to see how I am doing.

Be Realistic

Don’t make a resolution you know you will never manage to keep.  If you are behind from the start, then this will only serve to depress and upset you.  Find things that are realistic and that you are excited about.  Even taking a small step will improve your spirits and that can help motivate you to stick with it.

Be Specific

Don’t make generic resolutions like “I’m going to lose weight and exercise more”.  Instead be specific like “I’m going to lose 5 pounds” and “I’m going to walk for 30 minutes once a week”.  This way you have a tangible goal to meet and it will be clear if you are following the resolutions.

Write It Down

It is much easier to let a resolution slide if you just made it up in your head.  Take the time to write your resolutions down.  Do something like writing them on paper and hanging it up somewhere that you will keep seeing it or write it on the web in your own blog or facebook/myspace/twitter/personal web page.

Don’t Get Discouraged

If you fall short of your resolution or skip a few days/weeks/months, don’t get discouraged.  There is nothing stopping you from starting back up with your resolution and getting back into it.  Instead of feeling like you have failed, give yourself a break and make the most of it.