Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? Are they still rattling around in your head, but nothing has shaken lose yet? The most important thing to do in making your resolutions concrete and obtainable is also the easiest – WRITE THEM DOWN.

When we write down our intentions, we activate our brain to figure out how to reach those goals. Writing down concrete, time driven goals and reviewing those goals to determine our progress is a sure-fire way to succeed. It also helps keep us on track and provides a framework for decisions. For example, instead of buying that expensive coat that is on sale, put that money towards your dream vacation. Clearly defined goals, set down in black and white, provide important guideposts for your decisions in 2008.

We have compiled the following tips and advice in several categories that seem to always surface on everyone’s resolution list. If you find that you have difficulty in keeping your goals, please refer to the companion article, “Your 2008 Resolutions Can Be Attained.”

Lost Weight

The most common New Year’s Resolution is to lose weight, especially if you over-indulged during the Holidays. But many people become discouraged about weight-loss and need motivation to reach their goals. Instead of “counting calories” in 2008, why not try a new approach?

First, ask yourself if you lead an active or sedentary lifestyle. Do you exercise on a daily basis? How many hours of television do you watch every day? Do you take advantage of any opportunities to walk instead of ride, take the stairs instead of the elevator, or move instead of sit? A self-assessment of your level of physical activity is important to determine the next step.

If you fit into the couch potato category, it is time to get moving! Don’t listen to the voice inside your head that “you will start a walking program tomorrow.” Start small and with short distances, but just start! Keep a log of each time you walk, the amount of time you spent walking and the distance. Do this for one week, and see if you feel better. You will find that you are more alert at work, you will sleep better and have more energy.

If you are in the “fairly fit” category, notice your daily routine. Can you walk to the post office to mail that letter, instead of dropping it by on your way to other errands? Is there a group of other like-minded people you can join (or organize) to exercise on a regular basis? Group support and camaraderie are important to reach new goals.

The secret to dieting and weight loss is to not focus on the negatives (the food you can’t eat, the clothes you can’t wear) but instead look for positive ways to keep moving and to be active. By following this new philosophy, your metabolism will burn more calories and you will enjoy a fitter you. The lost weight is almost a byproduct of a healthy, active lifestyle.
 

Remember - you are not on a “diet.” Instead, you are on a quest to be more active!

Finances

If there are some financial items you have successfully avoided, now is the time to take a deep breath and assess the situation. For example, if you are always late on your credit card bills (resulting in a higher interest rate and late charges), take a moment to create a system to pay your bills on time. You could purchase a bill keeping system that physically organizes your bills as they are delivered, or start paying your bills online. Most major banks now offer free online bill payments. You can even schedule payments to occur on certain dates! Utilize technology to make you more organized.

Or just adopt the following simple system: As you as you receive a bill in the mail, pay it. Over time, you will save money on late fees and reduce your stress levels too. Be sure to contact each credit card company to find out how many “on-time” payments it will take before they lower your interest rate. Then give yourself a reminder to contact them after the time period has passed, and ask for a lower rate. Continue to make the higher payment at the lower interest rate, and watch the balance drop significantly.

There are many programs available to help organize your finances, such as Quicken or QuickBooks. Richard Bach, of “Start Late, Finish Rich” fame, has developed the “Automatic Money Manager” program, that can be found at www.AutomaticMoneyManager.com. You can test drive the program for 30 days, and see if it works for you. The key is to find a system that keeps track of spending and savings and lets you set goals. This program is one of the easiest to use and integrate into your finances.

Take charge of your money in 2008, and you will feel as if your life has just started.

Physical Environment

If you live or work in clutter, take a moment to step back and assess your physical environment. You may not realize it, but those piles of books on the floor or the stack of papers on your desk add to your sense of unease, because clutter represents unfinished business. Become aware of any psychological issues you may have that are preventing you from “de-cluttering,” such as procrastination, avoidance, or indecision. Here are some practical tips to get started:

• Attack one corner or one space on a regular basis (daily, weekly, etc.) A little done every day can remove the clutter more effectively than waiting for that perfect chunk of time to do it all at once (it will never happen).

• As you go through the items, ask yourself, “Does this ______ help me create or support the life I want?” If the answer is no, then out it goes.

• If you have not touched or looked at an item such as clothes or papers for at least 6 months, it may be time to find it a new home. Keeping things because “you might need them someday” is a sure-fire way to maintain a cluttered lifestyle.

• If you have stored items in a storage unit, they tend to recede from your memory because you don’t see them. It is also an expensive way to add more storage space, especially if you don’t the need the items that are stored!

 For more tips, visit www.ExperienceLifeMag.com and check out these articles, “Stop Storing Stress” (January 2008) and “Mind Over Mess” (May 2007).

To clear out your life for 2008, clear up the clutter in your life. You will be amazed at the difference you  feel!

Will 2008 be the year that you actually achieve your New Year’s Resolutions? If you do not have a good track record on this subject, please read on. There is hope for you!

The first step is to set concrete, obtainable goals. After writing them down, break each goal into smaller goals. Put a timeline or deadline on each smaller step. Post the main goals (and the sub-goals) in a place where you can look at them each day. Organize your time to ensure that you focus and take action on the smaller goals. As you complete the smaller goals, check them off your list. Then re-assess if your larger goal is now closer, or are there more sub-goals that you did not anticipate? If so, revise your list and create new deadlines.

The deep sense of satisfaction you feel as you check off your sub-goals is intoxicating. Once you begin to take orderly and consistent steps toward achieving the sub-goals, your larger goals become more obtainable. And you do not lose motivation along the way, because you can actually see your progress towards the larger goal. Make goal setting and achieving a habit and your life will become richer than you could ever imagine.

If you feel that your effectiveness during the day is not as strong as it should be, learn more about time management. Steven Covey, the author of “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” has created a Time Management Matrix that can be an enlightening tool. Analyzing your time and learning how to be more effective is a great start toward meeting your goals. Visit www.StevenCovey.com  for more information.

If you tend to procrastinate or allow negative thoughts to stop you from reaching your goals, the services of a life coach may be helpful. A trained life coach will help you identify your goals, where you set yourself up for failure and any negative habits, such as procrastination. You can find a certified life coach online ( www.findacoach.com  is one site) or search for a coach in your area.

Another great set of tools to help reach your goals is the Live Dynamite Upside Kit. The package ($185.00) is a 12 week program based on life-coaching principles and it focuses on improving positive energy, setting meaningful goals, taking action and maintaining momentum. Visit www.LiveDynamite.com  for more information.

A simple but powerful tool that is free can be found at www.tadalist.org . Once you have created an account, you sign in and organize your goals into lists. Create as many lists as you want, and check off the items as you complete them. You can share your lists with others, and you can always access your lists from any portal, including PDAs or iPhone.

If you have fitness and weight goals for 2008, another free website that is very useful is www.traineo.com . You can chart your fitness and weight loss goals online, and then share updates with others. Traineo will graph your progress, providing a valuable visual tool. You can also connect with the larger Traineo community for advice and support.

Reaching your goals in 2008 can happen – if you change your approach and perspective. Just think how you will feel on December 31, 2008, when you realize that you reached your goals (and probably exceeded them!) Your 2009 New Year’s resolutions will build on your 2008 accomplishments. Why not take off the self-imposed limitations and see what you can accomplish?