Got a new year’s resolution?  Is it to lose weight, get in shape, reduce the muffin top, tighten up the tushie, quit smoking or just be able to say No to that second or third bowl of ice cream?  If so, you have just joined millions of Americans who also have set the first Monday in January (um, that would be today) as Day 1 of their journey.

The key to making resolutions stick is to not think of it as a resolution.  Here are a few simple tricks to help you reach your goals and make 2010 a better year!

1.  Set a tangible goal.  “Get in shape” or “eat better” are not tangible goals.   Do 10 pushups, run a 10-minute mile or eat 5-7 servings of fruits and veggies are goals you can see and therefore meet.

2.  Write down the steps it will take you to achieve your goal.  For example,  if you want to increase your fruit and veggie intake, you could 1.  add a serving of  fruit to every meal 2. make a pot of veggie soup  3.  replace dessert with berries and yogurt 4. cut up carrots and other veggies to dip with hummus.   If your goal requires research, that should be step 1.

3.  Reward yourself for your achievement.  We are a society of instant gratification and need our “atta girls”.  Give yourself a gold star in your planner for every day you are on track, post about your achievement on Facebook or your blog.  Bottom line, take credit for what you are doing right.

4.  Accept you will have days of woe.  Face it, you may have a day when french fries and spinach dip may be all the veggies you have one day.  Acknowledge it,  dust the Cheetos crumbs from your lips and move on.   The key to this step is to allow that you are human, create a plan for the next time and keep on keeping on.

5.  Goal Attained?  Now what?  Have another one in the wings because god knows, we can all use improvement!

Now go run!

Keli 🙂