Every New Year we make resolutions to increase the amount we exercise, eat less fatty food, give up smoking, shout at the kids less, save more money, etc.  All great goals but unfortunately 25% of us have failed before the end of the first week. Just because you didn’t manage to stick to your resolution to start with doesn’t mean that you have to give up, now is the time to start again.

If you want to keep that promise to yourself and succeed in changing your lifestyle there are some simple strategies to follow.

Promote Your Goals
This doesn’t mean that you should take out an advert in the local newspaper or radio station but do tell people.  The more of your friends and family that know what you are trying to achieve the more they will be able to help and encourage you.  Let them know what you are doing, they may have some useful tips to help you on your way. 

Set Small Targets
For example you may have a resolution to loose 2 stone by the end of the year but if you start to fall behind your weekly target you can become disheartened and feel that there is no point in continuing.  Instead of setting a goal that is going to take a long time, just aim for the next dress size down to start with and then once you have done that give yourself another target perhaps to lose your first 1/2 stone, then maybe 10% of your weight, etc.

Forgive Yourself
The strange thing about making a New Year’s Resolution is that New Year is the worst possible time to try to make drastic changes to your life and yet we all try to and are disappointed with ourselves when we fail.  At this time of year it is difficult to keep to a low calorie diet because it is so cold that all your body wants you to eat is high calorific food that will help you to keep warm.  You may be inundated with offers to go out socialising so it can be difficult to give up smoking, cut down drinking or save money. In actual fact the easiest time to start a "New Year" resolution is Spring time when it is starting to warm up and everyone is preparing for the summer onslaught of visitors and holidays.

If you simply couldn’t resist that slice of chocolate cake or you are trying to give up smoking but on a night out you slipped up and had a cigarette with a beer, forgive yourself. Remember the resolution is for the whole year and you can always start again tomorrow. That’s not to say however that once you have had a slice of chocolate cake you go ahead and eat the whole thing or that once you have had one cigarette you can smoke the whole packet!

Reward Yourself
Following through on a resolution is rarely easy, so a little encouragement goes a long way. If you've resolved to shop less, reward yourself for not buying those 100€ shoes by treating yourself to a steaming hot cappucino. If you've resolved to be nicer to people, buy yourself a nice jacket after enduring that tedious cocktail party without delivering any insults. If you trying to lose weight reward yourself with a shopping trip to buy clothes that fit the new slimmer you.

Finally, remember that lifestyle changes can be implemented gradually and you have a whole year to achieve your goal