Have you kept your New Years Resolution

The first week of January hasn't even been completed and many I talk to have already broken their New Years Resolution. Whether it was to eat healthy, lose weight, exercise, stop smoking, stop drinking...the list goes on and on.



Stopping a bad habit, which let's be honest...if you made it your New Years Resolution it is a bad habit that you wanted to change.

Let's look at the bad habit; no matter what it is.  Habits, by definition, are an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary: the habit oflooking both ways before crossing the street, customary practice or use: Daily bathing is an American habit, a particular practice, custom, or usage: the habit of shaking hands, a dominant or regular disposition or tendency; prevailing character or quality: She has a habit of lookingat the bright side of things and/or addiction, especially to narcotics (often preceded by the ).  (Dictionary.com)

With this in mind it is something that we regularly do and if we have done it to the point in which it has become involuntary....we have done it for a long time.

What takes us years to develop will not go away in a few days.  Setbacks will happen and we have to learn how to adjust to these setbacks.  For instance, quitting smoking.  We already know that nicotine is addicting and some have been successful with quitting cold turkey but for most it requires MORE.  More attention, more drive and more reasons to quit.

No matter what your resolution is/was don't give up.  If you have already failed at keeping it you don't have to quit.  Imagine if Albert Einstein quit trying to invent the light bulb the first, second or even third time he failed?  We have to fail to understand and appreciate success.

What you can do to make your New Years Resolution successful:

1. Baby steps.  Rome wasn't invented in a day.  Don't make the goal to big to achieve. If your resolution is to eat healthier...eat healthier one meal at a time.  If it is to quit smoking break your day into 15 minute time spans.
2. Tell everyone your plan.  If you keep it a secret no one will help you.  If your friend/spouse doesn't know you want to eat healthier they will ask you to go to lunch or dinner at a fast food restaurant.  If they do not know you are wanting to quit drinking....How about Happy Hour.
3. Get help.  Enlist your friends, family and Doctor to help you.  The more people you are accountable to the better your chances of success are.  
4. Don't give up.  Failure is a part of learning.  If you fail...look at the circumstances and learn from it.  If your goal is to quit smoking and you have a cigarette after a fight with your boss/friend/spouse learn the trigger.  
5. DON'T QUIT!!  Make it important to you and let your new behavior become your new habit.

How are you keeping your New Years Resolution?  Any suggestions for everyone?

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