Writing New Years Resolutions

Have you given up on New Years Resolutions? Or do they seem to fail year after year?

You're not alone. I didn't even bother making any for many years. And when I did, I used the standard, "I resolve to lose weight", and then never followed through.

However, I have learned that writing Resolutions can actually be beneficial in many ways if done correctly.

Click here to share your resolutions or to read and comment on submissions from others.

How can writing resolutions be helpful?

• They can help you discover your goals and set a plan for reaching them.
• They can help you relieve stress by giving you the feeling of accomplishment, as long as you follow through. They will do the opposite if you set unrealistic expectations.

So how do you begin to get these benefits instead of facing another failed or forgotten resolution?

Be honest and realistic.

Don't set a goal to lose 30 pounds if you know that you're not really going to try. Making New Years Resolutions that aren't realistic only sets you up for failure. Be careful here, because if you're not honest with yourself, you could be doing more harm than you think. When I feel that I've let myself down, or I'm anxious about meeting a goal that I know I won't reach, I'm causing myself unnecessary stress.

Instead, when making your New Years Resolutions, focus on goals you will have the time, energy, and motivation to work on. Don't set yourself up for failure!

Think outside the box.

Going for the usual weight loss, or quitting smoking goals is great if you know you can follow through. But try to be more creative with your resolutions. Set some new goals that will allow you to move forward with your life or expand your knowledge. Resolve to pick up a new hobby, or take a class to learn something new.

Put some real thought into your resolutions and be creative. Think about what you need to improve on from the previous year, and resolve to make those improvements. These improvements can be geared toward your life, yourself, or even your state of mind.

Check up on your progress.

Once you've decided on your New Years Resolutions, write them down. And write a clear plan as to how you will reach your goals. Then decide on a follow-up time. Check in with yourself regularly... once a month or once every six weeks, for example. Mark this on your calendar and make sure you have made progress with each check-up. If not, make adjustments, figure out what you need to do to get back on track... or make adjustments to the goal itself to make it more attainable or realistic.

Setting realistic resolutions and following through with a plan will help you reach your goals... make this year a year you make yourself proud!

And don't let timing stop you from getting started. Use these guidelines to set goals all year long... you don't have to wait until the New Year to get started!

Want to share your New Years Resolutions?

You can submit them right here on OurStressfulLives.com. Your submission will be featured on its own page where other readers will be able to leave you comments.