By Elaine A. Malec, PhD

Getting ready for the New Year often means people are feeling a sense of new beginning and with that comes a desire to make plans and goals. Some people make a resolution to lose weight or others resolve to visit some long dreamed of place. Perhaps some people resolve to get out of debt, go to school , or get a better job. Resolutions are limitless. Is there a value in making resolutions? Research tells us very few people ever accomplish their New Year’s resolutions. So, what’s the point?

Instead of assuming that since very few people accomplish their resolutions, you shouldn’t try. It might be better to ask, if not now…when? When would be a better time to stop and think about where you’ve come from and where you are going? With our lives becoming so chaotic, it is good to examine ourselves and try to get our view in focus. You can also increase the likelihood you will be one of the few who succeed by using these 3 tips.

1.  Write them down. Writing down your New Year’s Resolutions increases the likelihood you will commit to them. When you write them down, make sure they are as specific as possible. A goal of “Be more tidy” needs to be written as “Make the bed every morning”.

2. Pick Achievable Goals. This follows from the first tip. Many times people fail because they set themselves up for failure with goals that are too lofty or too difficult to fit into their already busy life. For a person who sleeps in till the last minute and rushes to get to work an example of a lofty goal might be, “Get up every morning at 5am and workout for an hour”. A better and more reasonable goal might be, “Set alarm for 30 minutes earlier than normal and add 15 minutes of walking on the treadmill three days a week.” Remember, you can always increase your goals later in the year, if you want to.

3. Tell someone. It has been shown that when a person tells another person their goals, they are more likely to follow through. Sometimes a little accountability can make the difference between sticking with something or giving up. The best person to tell is someone you know is more of a cheerleader and an encourager and not someone you fear will be judgmental.

Having a New Year’s Resolution can help you focus on what you want and create a plan for getting there. It’s best to not think of success as an “all or nothing” process, but more of a process of refocusing and creating a life with purpose.