by Melinda Barr

Created on: January 04, 2010

Each New Year, many people start out with high hopes of a better life. Losing weight, eating healthier, and giving up any bad habits, top the resolution lists from coast to coast. Sadly, though, those optimistic resolutions often crash and burn before the first month has ended.

To make this year your best year ever, you must take time to plan how to create your future in the present time. To make these changes successful, and carve out a better life/future for you and your family, look at the following helpful hints:

~ Don’t sit around waiting for change; go out and find it.

Change starts with you. Sitting around all day hoping for a better future is as futile as plotting to win the next lottery. Sure, it could happen, but chances are high that it will not. If you have decided you want to change your life or lifestyle, you need to get off the treadmill that has become your daily grind. Start by deciding on a few minor changes that will get you started on obtaining a healthier and happier future.

~ Gaze into your personal mirror

Identify and analyze some of the things that you feel are holding you back. Perhaps it is a mundane job, or a hectic home life, or even something as simple as failing to plan to change. Stop blaming others and circumstances for your shortcomings or failures. Change begins with you, and only you.

~ Start small and work your way up

Plan to implement just one or two small changes at a time. For change to be successful, you need to replace the offending habit with a more productive habit. For example, if your resolution is to lose weight, vow to eliminate just one unhealthy vice at a time. Substitute a piece of fresh fruit for that morning donut. Cut down on the cream and sugar in your daily dose of java. 

~ Exercise

Instead of joining a costly gym or purchasing an expensive piece of exercise equipment, just schedule a fifteen-minute walk into your schedule a couple of times each day. Use this time as personal time to reflect on where you are today, and where you would like to be in a set period of time. Park your car, and cycle to work, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or just take a brisk walk around your neighborhood. While reading this article, do some stretching exercises or deep knee bends. Again, start with small changes and work your way up to the big ones.

To create a better future, you first need to embrace change. With a well thought out plan, and small obtainable baby steps, your goals are closer than you think. Any change, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is better than no change at all. Make this the year you welcome growth and change into your life.

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