It's that time of year again.  Christmas is out of the way, the days are getting longer and we are starting to look forward to the year ahead.  What do we want to do differently in 2012?

New Year Resolutions are always about positive changes.  When we start the New Year we are full of enthusiasm for our plans to give up bad habits, get fit, lose weight, get the finances in order, make plans for life-style changes, etc.  It's keeping the momentum going that's the hard part.  Here are some of my tips for keeping motivated.

1)  Make sure your goals are SMART - Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound. 
2)  Tell people about your New Year Resolutions so they can hold you accountable.
3)  Ask for support if you need it.  Everything we do is easier with a little bit of help.
4)  Reward yourself appropriately when you achieve a goal. 
5)  Don't despair if you have a slip-up.  Just put it behind you and start again from where you left off.
6)  If you feel overwhelmed by one of your goals, break it down into smaller, manageable chunks.
7)  Take some time out each day to reflect and adjust if necessary.

And finally, according to researchers at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia regular exercise improves your willpower and motivation.  So making a New Year resolution to get fit could have a valuable spin-off.  It's worth a try.

Your comments are welcome, as always.

Happy New Year!

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