ny Time Is A Good Time For Healthy Changes. Each year, many people make resolutions for change, and each year, most of those resolutions go�unresolved.
* Remember That It�s A Process: Expect to work your way up, rather than maintaining perfection and feeling let-down if you don�t achieve it immediately.
* Work Your Way Up: In setting goals for new behavior, aim for once or twice a week, rather than everyday. For example, instead of saying, �I�ll go to the gym everyday�, plan for �every Wednesday� or, better yet, sign up for a fun exercise class, and you can work your way up to more often.
* Set Yourself Up To Succeed: Set small, attainable goals, and add more steps as you complete each one. This way you gradually work your way toward the life you want and the necessary changes, but you experience much more �success� along the way, rather than feeling like a failure if you don�t experience ultimate change overnight.
Have A Goal Each Month: If you�re like most people, you may have several changes you�d like to make in your life; if so, it may be a good idea to tackle one each month. This way, 1) you can focus more, as you won�t be trying to make several sweeping changes at once; 2) you can re-commit yourself each month to a new idea, so you keep growing all year and self-improvement becomes a way of life; and 3) you can build on each success, so you can first free up time before you take on a new hobby or get involved in an important cause, for example. Also, habits generally take 21 days to form. This setup enables you to devote energy to forming new habits more easily before moving on to the next, so you�re not relying solely on will-power.
* Team Up: Have a buddy who knows your goals, and encourage each other, even if you�re working on separate goals. This will provide you with someone who can give you a high-five when you deserve one, and a little encouragement when you need it.
* Reward Small Successes: Divide your goal into bite-sized steps and have a reward waiting at the completion of each.
* Align Rewards With Goals: Have rewards that are in line with your achievements (like new workout clothes for every 5 gym visits, or a beautiful new pen if you stick with your journaling habit for two weeks).
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