Making a New Year's Resolution that Works

Chances are pretty good that because of peer pressure, you've made some resolutions to bring you a fresh start to the new year. Everyone seems to make these resolutions, yet rarely does someone see them to fruition.

It's hard to keep focus on any goal, and a new year's resolution seems nearly impossible. Most people have a hard time planning a full year's worth of goals, but not to worry, if you make a good goal, understand what you need to do to keep the goal, and track your progress, you might just make it through a year keeping your resolution.

Good luck!

Sometimes, you don't even need a goal in order to attain what you want. If your new year's resolution is to wear clothes every day, chances are, you're going to be pretty successful. 

In order for it to be a real goal, there must be an element of challenge, and that challenge must be specific. "I want to lose weight" or "I want to have my own home based business" are not specific enough to be real goals, that's more of a wish list. 

Sorry, couldn't resist the cheer. There's something to be said for enthusiasm when you set a goal. After all, if you don't believe it can be done, don't bother with making the resolution. At any rate, you should be specific when making a goal, not to mention being realistic. If your goal is to lose weight, or change careers, give up some numbers. For example:

I want to lose 2.5 pounds every month until December 31st.

I want to be an nationwide trucker making 70,000 a year by December 31st.

Your goals should be SMART goals - Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. If you don't have those elements, then you're never going to reach your end results. That's all this statement is, too - a declaration of the end results. You're not done yet.

Now that you've been specific with your goal, write down a list of tactics that you're going to follow to reach your results. These will likewise be specific, and on a schedule. If your resolution is to quit smoking, then write down everything you'll do to quit smoking, like using the patch, cutting back on consumption, staying away from bars, etc. If you're losing weight, write down things like getting a gym membership and going once per week, cutting back on sweets, limiting calories, etc.

The important part of making a goal is all of the things you need to do to attain it; the internet offers a wealth of information in this regard. However, once you decide on the course you are going to take to make your goal, feel free to remove those things that are not working, and add things that do work. Part of attaining a goal is continuous evaluation and evolution to keep you on target. Do not be afraid to try something different.

Once you've written down your tactics, execute them immediately - don't put it off any longer. I would hope that at this point, if you really did make a SMART goal, and then put down some tactics, that you're ready to go. However, all the plans in the world without willpower and execution fall to dust without exception.

Take control of the situation and you'll get your end result. Good luck!