The Secret to Making Sure You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

'Tis the season of New Year's Resolutions

Drop 10 pounds. Quit smoking. Stop cursing. Spend more time with family.  Take more vacation time.

New Year's resolutions come around every 365 days or so.  Even though it seems people break them before they have finished making them, those resolutions can be good things.

Resolutions are important because they promote goal-setting, which is critical to getting things done.

But the reason behind the resolution can be as important as setting goals.

Even with the best of intentions, people often break their resolutions.

People usually fail in their resolutions due to 3 main reasons:
1) They promote goals that are too big.
2) They proclaim their goal to the wrong people (those who will pressure them too much or chastise them instead of those who will actually help them realize their goal) and
3) They often focus on how to accomplish goals versus why they want to accomplish them, ignoring the "reason behind the reason."

Be very, very clear not only on how you will accomplish your resolution but also on why you want to accomplish it. If you can't come up with good and meaningful reasons that resonate with you, then it's probably not a good resolution.

Resolutions should be more than mere "wishes."

Goals are more likely to be reached if they are SMART - meaning specific, measurable, attainable, rewarding, and time-limited. For example, instead of simply making losing weight a goal, be more specific, such as "I'd like to lose five pounds over the first two months of the year and then set a new goal from there."

Expect it to be tough initially - it takes a while for a new habit to cement itself into your daily routine.

Don't be too hard on yourself, as well, if you're not perfect.  Breaking an initial resolution doesn't mean you can't succeed. 

If you find it too tough on your own to keep your committment, then share your goals and resolutions with someone who cares about you whom you know will keep you accountable.  Maybe if they have have some similar goals, such as weight loss, you can help each other keep accountable.

Talk to you soon,

Dr. Leif

PS - Happy 2012 from us at Active ChiroCare!