by Karen Banes

Created on: December 12, 2008   Last Updated: December 15, 2008

New Year's resolutions most of us make them and few of us keep them, but there are ways to make your resolutions unbreakable, or at least shatter proof.

The key to success with resolutions is to take vague concepts and turn them into achievable goals. Typical resolutions such as "lose weight", "get in shape", or "make more money" lack a vital ingredient a plan of action. Here are some examples of how to turn an ordinary doomed-to-failure New Year's resolution into an infallible action plan.

"Lose weight" could be broken down into the following goals:

Read some inspiring healthy cook books. Browse through some books or magazines about healthy living, sport and exercise. Experiment with some new, healthy, recipes. Pick one sport/exercise class/physical activity I think I will love enough to stick to and sign up. Enlist a friend to go hiking or biking with each weekend. Leave car in garage on the weekends run errands on foot.

"Make more money" might look like this:

Do research on pay scales within my industry and other industries I'm interested in and could re-train for. Book appointment to talk to my boss about the possibility of a pay raise or promotion within the company. Start applying for promotions within company and/or better paid jobs elsewhere. Look at options to do extra freelance work or take on another job. Ensure that the money I am earning is wisely invested and check that I am using all relevant tax allowances.

This concept can be applied to any goal, no matter how big. It's helpful to devise a time scale for your plan and make a deadline for each sub-goal. If your plan is long-term and complicated (for example a complete change of career involving a lot of education or re-training) start at where you want to be and work backwards, setting detailed goals for each step you need to take along the way.

Taking small steps will help you feel in control and give you a constant sense of achievement , which is a big boost to self-esteem. Having a detailed plan, in writing, will help guide you in the right direction on days when you feel a little distracted.

If you have a particularly wacky resolution and you're not sure where to start don't be afraid to get good friends or supportive relatives to help you out. Sit down and have a brain-storming session. See how many ideas you can come up with related to your goal, then sit down and try and put them into a logical order that you can follow through on.

New Year's resolutions don't have to be in pieces by February. With proper planning, they can still be going strong next New Year and beyond.

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