by Michelle Vermillion

Created on: December 09, 2008   Last Updated: December 15, 2008

With a New Year comes change. Change in personality, fitness habits, family lifestyles, and employment are among thousands of resolutions planned by men, women and children worldwide. The success of your resolution is reliant upon proper planning, measurable goals, accountability and personal drive.

First and foremost, you need to be sure that your goal is something you really want. Take a moment to sit and think about what you want to change or improve. This should not only be a reflection of who you want to be, but who you are inside. The turn of the New Year is an opportunity for a fresh start, but can you follow through on your lifestyle change for an entire year?

To know where you are going, you must know where you're coming from. Why do you want to make a change? What is your current level of performance? What factors affect this personal situation? What is this costing you? Once you've established these answers, you're ready to make a plan for the New Year.

Evaluate your goal, and break this down into measurable tasks. Nothing that requires judgment- everything should be based upon fact. In the instance you want to spend more time at the gym, define "more". This can be done in your own personal way: three more hours per week; 1 more class per week; 1 more personal training session per week. Figure out what works for you and set goals you can evaluate at a later time.

With many common New Year's resolutions, it is both feasible and beneficial to set a time line. When do you want to start? How much time will this take? Do you have both short term and long term goals? It's also important to evaluate your current lifestyle and assess how you utilize your time. Use a grid to mark what you're doing throughout a typical week. Include tasks such as work, commuting, meal times, family time, household responsibilities, must-see television programs and sleep. Once this is done, pencil in the time you will devote to your new goal. Consider how this is going to affect the rest of your day/week. With a realistic time line established, achieving your goals will be more feasible.

Last but certainly not least is accountability. Review your goals often to evaluate if you are meeting them. Post reminders of your aspirations throughout your living space as constant reminders of what you want to achieve. A fun trick is to find a friend with a similar goal so you can practice your resolutions together. Some resolutions will also allow for enrollment in a program where specialists help implement and evaluate your plans. If you're not happy with your goal, feel free to tweak your time line and steps to meet your lifestyle. This will only help you reach a happy end result.

With confidence, drive and planning everyone has potential for the positive change they desire. Enjoy the New Year and the fresh-start to your lifestyle!

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