Matino

Did you make a New Year's resolution?  If so, have you kept it?

We're now into the 3rd week of 2012 and not surprisingly, many of us have already broken our 2012 resolutions.  Some people just don't believe in resolutions.  Some say they make resolutions throughout the year and don't wait until January 1st.  But plenty of others enter into the yearly challenge with the best of intentions, only to find themselves off the wagon not long after the ball has dropped in Times Square.


What exactly is the most effective way to keep a New Year's resolution? One of the best tips is to not create a long laundry list of things to do.  Stick with 1 or 2 goals that you can dedicate yourself to and will not feel overwhelmed by.  Another tip is not to base a resolution on the calendar.  For example, if your goal is to stop smoking, you can't chain smoke up until 11:59pm on December 31st, then magically and successfully quit cold turkey at the stroke of midnight.  Impossible!

Many therapists say making attainable and realistic goals for ourselves is a good practice to have year round and not just at the start of a new year.  Creating a goal to lose 50 pounds in 2 weeks is neither attainable or realistic, so it's useless.  They also stress not to enter resolutions with an all or nothing mentality.  For example, if your goal is to cut out eating desserts, you should not feel like a failure or that the resolution has ended if you sneak a cookie one day or have some birthday cake at the office party. Goals take time and don't occur at the stoke of midnight at the start of the year.  If you fall off your resolution wagon, simply get back on it the next day.  No need to wait until January 1st, 2013 to start all over again.  A life change is not calendar or time based.  We can become a better person at any time of year!

TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: