by Trenna Sue Hiler

Created on: December 29, 2008   Last Updated: January 13, 2009

Making New Years Resolutions is a grand tradition. For some, breaking the resolutions has become a tradition as well. What can be done to shake it up and keep those New Years Resolutions?

~Adjust expectations

Often times when setting New Year's Resolutions people make the mistake of saying they will do something every single day. They will be perfect for 365 days. So what happens the first day they miss? Is the whole resolution down the tubes? Perfection is a goal that can not be attained in many areas. Don't set up resolutions for failure, it just doesn't make sense.

People who give themselves weekly goals tend to reach them. A little bit of wiggle room allows for a successful New Year's Resolution. Make your goals weekly so if you miss a day you have six other days to make it up. If that is too tough make them monthly and then you have around 30 days to get it all in.

~Don't set the same goals

People who set the same goals that they didn't accomplish last year are not making a fresh start. They are repeating a disaster. Unless your entire personality and perspective on life has changed, the goal needs to be different. At the very least it must be tweaked and adjusted.

~Publish your resolutions

It really doesn't matter where you publish them as long as they are written where others can see them. Once someone else knows that you are trying they can be a support group. Hang posters on the fridge. Write about it in your blog. Put sticky notes all over the house. Do whatever it takes to get the help and motivation you need.

~Good enough really is

Mrs. Fields got this one wrong. Her theory with her cookies is "good enough never is". If there is movement in the right direction consider it a good thing. Perfection puts too much pressure on an individual. When New Year's Resolutions send someone to therapy there's a problem. If you are doing your personal be best be happy with it. It truly is your ship you are sailing.

~Begin with a clean slate

Forgive yourself for all those past mistakes. They are now part of what makes you who you are. Embrace your past. Be thankful for the experiences you have had and move forward. Here is a promise. If too much time is spent looking backwards you are going to hit an obstacle you could have seen if you had been facing forward. It seems fairly obvious, but how much time is spent worrying about things that have already happened. Letting go plays a big part in moving ahead with new goals.

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