NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

                         NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

New Year's resolution: a commitment that a person's makes to one or more personal goals/projects, a commitment to self-improvement...

Joey Adams
"May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions!"

   
      Every end of the year we always tend to review what we did and did not do the past year and as the new year approaches we anticipate new beginnings and decide to start afresh with new goals. We are overzealous about it, yet most of the times we fail miserably shortly after. According to a 2007 survey of over 3,000 people conducted by the British psychologist Richard Wiseman, 88% of all resolutions end in failure.

Anonymous"Many people look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits."
          Making New Year's Resolutions goes way back in time to the ancient Babylonians who made promises to their Gods at the start of each year to return any borrowed objects and pay off their debts. Today's resolutions are more about self-improvement:

• lose weight/exercise more
• eat better
• quit a bad habit such as smoking
• get out of debt/save money
• improve grades
• become more organised/ manage time
• declutter/ renovate the house, etc.

From The Bridget Jones Diary
"I do think New Year's resolutions can't technically be expected to begin on New Year's Day, don't you? Since, because it's an extension of New Year's Eve, smokers are already on a smoking roll and cannot be expected to stop abruptly on the stroke of midnight with so much nicotine in the system. Also dieting on New Year's Day isn't a good idea as you can't eat rationally but really need to be free to consume whatever is necessary, moment by moment, in order to ease your hangover. I think it would be much more sensible if resolutions began generally on January the second..."

   
      Now that the new year approaches it is time to reconsider our new year's resolutions. As a matter of fact, it is my opinion that it's the perfect time to set or reset and re-evaluate the goals we had set for ourselves last year. Did we make it?  Before and during the holidays we are in a state of emotional exuberance and make our New Year's resolutions with great enthusiasm and zeal. After the holiday fanfare recedes and we gradually go back to our routine it becomes clearer what we really want to accomplish in the new year. We are more aware of our true needs and can think more thoroughly about how we're going to do it. So set your goals in writing for now and as soon as the holidays are over, re-evaluate your goals and make a plan towards accomplising them.

      As I mentioned in the beginning, researches claim that most us will fail. Soooo! Is that going to discourage me from making my New Year's Resolutions? Absolutely NOT. If I fail, I will try again! I can be as stubborn as bad habits!!! 

      Success is greatly a matter of willpower but also, of good planning. This year we have to back our resolutions with the proper planning. Pursuing a goal without good planning is immature and frivolous and leading to sure failure.

So be aware:

• without proper planning your resolution will fail
• be realistic: make an attainable goal
• don't make a long list of resolutions (keep the list very, VERY short and focus on one goal at a time
• give yourself time/ don't expect instant success - if you fail, try again
• keep your willpower strong by constantly reminding yourself the benefits of succeeding in your resolution