New Year's Resolution...Does it really work???

A New Year resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a personal goal, project, or the reforming of a habit. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous. A New Years Resolution is generally a goal someone sets out to accomplish in the coming year. Some examples include resolutions to donate to the poor more often, to become more assertive, or to become more environmentally responsible.

Popular goals include resolutions to:

• Improve health: lose weight, exercise more, eat better, drink less alcohol, quit smoking
• Improve finances: get out of debt, save money
• Improve career: get a better job
• Improve education: improve grades, get a better education, learn something new (such as a foreign language ormusic)
• Improve self: become more organized, reduce stress, be less grumpy, manage time, be more independent
• Take a trip
• Volunteer to help others

Success rate

Recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, (a system where small measurable goals are being set; such as, a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.

Tips to keep your New Year's resolution

First, plan for success. What do you want to achieve first, second, third, and have a plan laid out in order of importance.

Once you have that in place, don't procrastinate, and don't live by the motto "Don't sweat the details today, you can always start tomorrow." Instead tell yourself "Let's start now, we can always play later."

Also, have rewards in place so that once you've achieved a goal you can have that reward ready.

Give yourself time to adjust. Changes don't happen overnight. If you overwhelm yourself, you may not be successful, so take it one day at a time.

Having a buddy always helps, that way you'll have someone else motivating you and you can remind each other to stick to your goals.

Finally, don't give up. When the going gets tough, just keep going and remind yourself these goals you're setting will benefit you in the long run.