Tips for Achieving Your 2011 Goals

Any time of year is a good time to make healthy lifestyle changes, but the beginning of a new year is a time when most of us are filled with hope and enthusiasm to make the coming year even better than the previous one. Each January is a great time to set new intentions because it offers an easy-to-identify, traditional time to re-think and re-energize our goals.

Statistics say that only about 10% of people succeed at their new year’s resolutions. Really? That number seems very low to me. If that is really the case, then I think there are several factors that play into that low percentage. However, instead of focusing on the negative reasons why so many goals are not achieved, let’s look at some positive ways to insure that we are in that 10% of goal achievers for 2011 and beyond!

Here are eight tips to help. You may have heard them before, but a little New Year’s reminder is good for all of us.

1. journal:
Write down your goals and your motives for achieving them in a special notebook where you can look at them, add to them, or change if needed. Write impressions that come to you about each goal and keep track of your progress.

2. Try something new:
Repeating resolutions you have failed to keep before is a recipe for disappointment. Set a new goal, or approach an old aim in a new way. For example, instead of trying to lose a set amount of weight, vow to exercise more.

3. Be specific:
Think about exactly what you are going to do, where and when. Vague plans fail. For example, instead of saying that you will go running on two days each week, decide you will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays at a specific time.

4. See it in your mind’s eye:
Visualize yourself doing whatever you need to do to achieve your resolution. Focusing on this image will help you believe in your ability to succeed and raise your vibration to match the goal.

5. Hold yourself accountable:
New Year's resolutions generally fail because they are just as easy to dismiss as they are to make. This is a great opportunity to practice self-discipline.

6. Be positive:
You will get better results from thinking about the good things that will come from your new lifestyle rather than any difficulty of letting go of your old habits.

7. Have a support system:
Spending time with forward thinking people who believe in you and will help you achieve your goals is instrumental to success.

8. Be persistent:
New habits can take time to learn, and once in a while you may slip up and revert to the old you. Most of us give in to temptation occasionally, so forgive yourself and keep moving forward.

By following these suggestions and believing that you are worthy of whatever you put your mind to, you should be set for a great 2011!