How to Make New Year’s Resolutions Work

1. MAKE A LIST of your New Year’s resolutions, and not just a mental list. You and I both know that never works. I want you to actually grab a pen and paper and write your resolutions down. Maybe even have a designated notebook, or make your list in a notes app on your smart phone. Creating a written list forces you to visualize your goals.

   My list of New Year’s Resolutions includes:

   1. Get more sleep
   2. Spend more quality time with my husband
   3. Help more postnatal moms reach their fitness goal

   All of these are related to me now being a new mom of two. By actually writing them down as my New Year’s resolutions and creating a plan to achieve them, I’ll stay true to myself and actualize my resolutions.

2. CREATE A PLAN for how to achieve those resolutions. Having a plan in place helps to further solidify your goals. As the saying goes… “He who fails to plan is planning to fail.”The definition of a resolution is “a firm decision to do or not to do something.” The definition of a plan is “a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something.” In other words, resolutions are simply decisions made, but a plan is how those decisions will be carried out. Sometimes simply deciding to do something isn’t enough; the important part is to actually DO them!

   One of my New Year’s resolutions is to get more sleep. My plan to do this is: I will go to bed within an hour of putting both my boys to bed – especially on nights when my husband is working late. If at 9 pm I still feel like I have things to cross of my to-do list for that day, I will plan to set my alarm extra early and get it done first thing in the morning when I am more alert and well rested. I say this as I’m writing this blog at midnight. Trust me, this is something I’m really going to have to work hard at.

3. TELL SOMEONE about your resolutions and about the plan you have in place to achieve them. You can do this easily with a blog post, a Facebook update, a tweet or a quick phone call to your best friend. Sharing your goals and your plans to achieve them will help keep you accountable.

   Well, looks like I just took care of that one!

4. SET A DEADLINE. Give yourself a due date – maybe even a series of them so you can check back in with your list of resolutions at 3 months, 6 months and then again at the 12-month mark. This will allow you to look back at your successes and celebrate the milestones.

   If you check in with yourself at the end of the third month and you haven’t achieved your goal, revaluate why it hasn’t happened and make a plan for how to overcome those challenges, so you can make it happen within the next set of three months.

   For example, if by the end of March, I don’t feel like I’m getting more sleep, I’m going to revaluate the factors contributing to my lack of sleep and make a change.

I truly wish you the best of luck with your list, your plans, and your deadlines. I can help you out with #3 right now! Post your resolution(s) in the comments section below. Feel free to even leave a deadline . . . that way I can come hunt you down and check to see if you’ve met your goals!

Happy New Year!