The new year is a time to reflect and reinvent - and many people do this through resolutions, whether quitting smoking, losing weight, spending more time with family, or any other number of  New Year’s resolutions. Saying you’ll modify a behavior is one thing, but doing it is another. And in order to achieve your goal, it takes some planning. Here are some tips on how to keep on your resolution’s track:

• Choose An Attainable Goal - Face it, you’re not going to lost 50 lbs. in a month. Why not go for something more attainable, like one or two pounds per week? Choose an attainable goal for whatever you want to conquer - if you think unrealistically, you may just set yourself up for disappointment.
• Find A Behavior To Replace The Old Behavior - Find a new behavior to replace your old behavior. For instance, if you want to cut down on smoking, take the money you would have spent on cigarettes and invest it in a new hobby, like fishing. Refocus your energy on the new behavior and you’ll find that it will eventually replace the old behavior.
• Develop A Plan - Don’t go blindly into a resolution. Write down your goals on a piece of paper and how you are going to achieve those goals. Seeing the goals on paper may help better stick to your plan.
• Follow Your Plan Gradually - Going cold turkey or going into a resolution with gusto may not work for you. For instance, if you vow to get more exercise this year, don’t go running for three miles then spend four hours at the gym on your very first day. Gradually build up to your goal, and you’re more likely to get there and stay there.
• Find A Resolution Buddy - If you and your best friend both want eat more healthy this year, why not work on your resolution together? Take a cooking class, make food together and share recipes. If you slip up and eat McDonald’s for three meals straight, your friend can be there for support and remind you of your goal. Alternatively, find an online community of people who eat healthy, and get tips and support from them, as well.
• Have Others Remind You Of Your Resolution - Have family members and friends remind you when you’re slipping up. If you’re trying to quit smoking and someone sees you slipping a pack of cigarettes in your bag, having the person say, “Hey, I thought you were quitting!” may be enough to push you to take the cigarettes out.
• Keep A Diary - Keep a resolution diary, writing down your goals and how you do day-to-day. Don’t just write about your accomplishments - write about your failures, as well. The diary can act as a source of encouragement to keep on working towards your goals.
• Reward Yourself - If you make the resolution to lose weight and you drop two dress sizes, reward yourself by buying the fabulous scarf you’ve been eyeing. Just be wary of negative rewards - just because you lost weight, it doesn’t mean you should go on an all-night food binge. Think of something positive that will not make you go off-track.
• Don’t Get Discouraged - Just because you don’t see immediate results doesn’t mean you shouldn’t stop trying. Changing your behavior can take a long time, but it will only happen if you stick to your goals.
• If You Fall Off Track, Get Right Back On - If you haven’t smoked for a week, then find yourself puffing a stressful night away, don’t use this as an excuse to dump the resolution and give up. Think of it as a minor setback. Reread your goals (and rewrite, if needed), and get back in the game.

What are your best tips for keeping New Year’s resolutions?

Tip Diva and Tip Dude wish you a safe, happy and healthy New Year!

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