Tricks to keeping resolutions?

[2moretrees]

Does anyone have good tricks or methods that help them keep their New Year resolutions? I always go into the New Year with good intentions and saying this year I'm going to do this and that, but I usually don't last a month. Anyone who is good at keeping their resolutions, how do you do it?

[Tammy]

Make them reasonable and work on them with baby steps.

If you want to lose weight work on 5 lbs at a time versus say 50 lbs.
Want to lose cc debt? same way baby steps.

[amomof4]

Use the journal. Wow! I can't believe how well it's working for me. When you post your progress, you don't want the world to see the failures. Of course mine is doomed to fail, but it will help me to keep on target most of the time. I hope.

[PrincessPerky]

Positive mental attitude! And if you are slipping in say oh week one of January it isn't to late to start over again. (even December isn't to late, the calendar is man made, we don't have to follow it unless we are at work) )

That and a year is just soooooo long, I like to keep at a habit for a month or so, If I still havn't got it down, it is either too big, or just not the right time. Not like there arn't plenty of other habits I need to work on. I just go chose an easier one. I put the hard habit away for awhile.

And be specific, instead of 'I'm going to stop spending money' try "I am going to stop buying X' with X being something you tend to buy that isn't neccesary. Or for me I aim to reduce one bill at a time, and when I get stuck I move on to another one. Right now my grocery is about as low as its going for a bit, so I moved on the the heat (notice my recent Q, of how low is low.) When I first decided to cut bills and pay the CC sooner, I was overwhelmed with choices. now with one bill at a time, and one new habit at a time I think I can make it.

[terry1156]

I think the main problem with resolutions are they are usually too broadly defined. "I'm going to stop smoking." That's great, but you need to have a plan on how to do it. The same is true with money and debt. You need to have a plan and not just a statement to make it work.

[crosses]

Make sure they aren't more than you can handle. Small resolutions that you complete are better than big ones with good intentions, but never get done.

[2moretrees]

Thank you all for the advice. It has been helpful in my making them more specific and smaller. I hope that I can last longer this year than in past years.

[jhd815]

Another tip, although it might only apply to certain resolutions like wanting to lose weight or stop smoking, is to do so with a partner or "buddy".

It's sort of like a support group type thing where you can keep an eye on each other, offer encouragement, and celebrate those small victories.

I firmly agree that the most important steps are to make them reasonable and to begin with small steps. It's worked for me!

[terry1156]

Along the same point, tell as many people as you can aboout it. The more the better. It's much harder to quit something that you have announced to everyone you're going to do.

[Momtwo]

I have found it easier to keep resolutions if I only do one and then focus all my attention on it!

[the4parkers]

i read books to motivate me

[seaar2000]

What keeps me motivated to keep my new years resolutions is that I pretend that I may be layed off from my job and try to save as much as possible. My job is pretty secure, but one never knows. I think of all the people who thought their jobs were secure and now they don't have one. Being a single parent I think also helps me. I am the main bread earner and I have to be much more careful with my money.