We all know  how easy it is to list down our New Year’s resolutions every year, but it has always been difficult to stick to them. We are not easily motivated to make a change within ourselves only because the calendar has switched, but more so because we all want to improve some of our ways. Whether we want to lose weight, save money, or become more optimistic, any resolution we make for the coming year is always done with the hope of becoming a better person.

Below are some tips that can help you stick to your new year’s resolutions:

Focus on a few resolutions
Nobody can force change, and you cannot make a lot of “quit this, do that” resolutions that can only make you depressed and lead you to abandon your list all together. Focus on one or two specific goals that you want to achieve over the course of the year. Think about it for a while, and assess yourself to find out what is the most important change you need to make in the coming year. If you think you can handle working on two resolutions, commit and convince yourself to take action.

List specific steps that you’ll do to accomplish your goal
Write a step-by-step process containing details of what you need to do in order to accomplish your goals for the New Year. This will help you do things gradually without exerting too much effort on the onset and falter later on. For example, if you want to lose weight, write down your goal. Don’t just write that you want to become slimmer without providing additional details on how to go about it. You can write it down this way:

    Anna’s weight loss resolution: to lose 30 lbs. before Thanksgiving 2013
•    Go on a fruit detox in January for two weeks to cleanse my body
•    Hit the gym thrice a week starting February, work out at least an hour every visit
•    Minimize intake of starchy food after the detox, continue until Thanksgiving
•    Lose an average of 3 lbs. per month

Get a coach who will guide you in completing your goals
Have a close friend or a trusted family member help you monitor your progress while working on your resolution. He or she will be responsible in reminding you to stay on track. This person can scold you if you eat another bar of Hershey’s after working out or dial your business telephone number to remind you that your next TRX training is due in four hours. 

Post your resolution in a visible place
Have multiple copies of your list and post them in places that will allow you to see them instantly. Bring a copy with you and post it on your office workstation. Stick one in your bedroom wall to be reminded of your goals every time you wake up and write it down on your daily planner as well. This way, you’ll have no excuse to not work on it and no one to blame but yourself if you don’t accomplish it by the end of the year.

Set a reward for yourself
Get inspired by thinking of a reward for yourself once you accomplish your resolution. It may be a material reward, like a new gadget or even a fancy dinner to treat yourself after achieving your goal.