If You Are Setting New Year's Resolutions You've Got To Read These 6 Awesome Tips

It's almost that time when mass hysteria takes over compelling us to make promises to ourselves that we often just can't keep. Here’s some sobering information about New Year’s resolutions:

• 68% of Canadians made a resolution for 2012
• 55% who made a resolution in 2011 failed to complete it
• 52% of Canadians keep their resolutions for one month
• Only 19% kept New Years Resolutions for the entire year.

In spite of these dismal stats, according to the University of Scranton Journal of Clinical Psychology, people who make New Year’s Resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than people who don’t, and yet only 8% of Americans actually achieve their resolutions each year. While we may desire to accomplish our goals, how we go about it is the difference that makes the difference. So here are some things to consider:

1. Write down your goals: Ever heard of the millionaire who kept a promise in his or her wallet to achieve that goal by a certain date? There are many stories of such cases. Writing down your goal is a way of making a self-fulfilling prophecy. Whatever those goals are, it’s important to write them down.

2. Make them clear and achievable: If you want to reduce your debt load, don’t just write down “Reduce debt,” but indicate how much this year, and then how much each month. Make it as clear and achievable and detailed as possible.

3. Partner Up: Setting goals with your partner or spouse is very important. For those with partners and families, you don’t live alone. You and your partner both bring strengths to the relationship that can be leveraged toward achieving your goals as a family. Take time with your spouse or partner, and talk over and write down what you want to accomplish as a family or household for the year.

4. Focus on a Few: Having 30 goals may look good on paper, but will be implausible to fulfill, and may lead to guilt and discouragement. Focus on a few, and break them down into achievable action steps, and work toward them.

5. Set a Doable Timeline: It’s not the goal that’s hard to accomplish, it’s a goal running amok and over-extending itself. A goal without a timeline is just a mirage. Set a date, and work diligently toward it.

6. Be Patient with Yourself: Stress raises cortisol in the brain, which reduces your ability to think and function. Stay calm and patient. When you hit a detour or challenge, stay calm and work through it. Be patient with yourself and your loved ones.

By applying these steps, and building a plan for this year, you are 10 times more likely to achieve your goals, whether reducing your debt, losing weight, or taking steps toward a new life. You can do it! Take some time today and just begin.  The follow through simply takes time, intent, and diligence.