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You will find success in keeping your NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS if you set realistic goals and hold yourself accountable. The type of people that can go from smoking two packs of cigarettes a day to quitting smoking overnight are rare, and extremely determined. Although you make think you are determined enough to keep a resolution, most people forget about their resolutions within a few days or weeks. Be realistic, and make this the year you change for the better!

The first step to keeping resolutions is to be realistic. You can't lose 50 pounds in one week. Losing 10 pounds in one week is possible, but highly unlikely. Setting a goal like losing 2 pounds a week is achievable. You will be able to keep this resolution longer if you set a goal you can continue to achieve. If you eat fast food almost every day, make your resolution to only eat fast food once a week.

Write a letter to yourself, along the lines of this: Dear Self, This past year I made a resolution to not eat chocolate, to watch only 1 hour of TV a day, and to lose 10 pounds. Did I keep these resolutions? Love, Me. The purpose of the letter is to hold yourself accountable. When you are tempted to fall short on your resolutions, think of the letter. Open the letter at some point during the year, maybe in June, or on your birthday, or at the end of January.

You will have an easier time keeping your resolution if you tell others about it. Just like any goal, you need encouragement to stay on track. Ask your friends what their resolutions are and ask them regularly how they are doing with their goals. Do not share your goals with negative people, because you don't need the criticism.

Determination to keep your resolutions is essential. You cannot be weak. If you want to lose weight, you have to exercise regularly. If you want to write a novel, you need to be putting words on paper often. If you want anything, you have to work for it. Eliminate the distractions first. An excellent book to read is The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. This book has many tools to help you stay on track to reach your goals.

Find what works for you to help you achieve your resolution. This is inspiration. Maybe you need to associate with more positive people. Be honest with yourself, and write a list of the things that have kept you from achieving your goals in the past, and think about what it will take to keep these resolutions in the new year.

Learn more about this author, Caroline Atkins.
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