So, you have a list of New Year’s resolutions in mind. Maybe you even taped a draft of it to the refrigerator as an easy daily reminder. That sounds like a good start, but the hard part is still to come. The follow through. How will you see to it that these goals are achieved? What will make this year’s resolutions any different than years past? The five tips below will help to refine your objectives and get 2010 kicked off in the right direction.

Take Time to Identify Your Goal

Many of us whip up a quick list of things we would like to improve and rattle those off as goals for the New Year. If change is to be achieved, however, you need to take time to really identify where you would like to be in the next year. Dr. Daniela Schreier, Assistant Professor of Clinical Counseling at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, thechicagoschool.edu, notes that it is important to sit down and write out exactly what you are willing to commit yourself to in the coming weeks and months. After you have your list, ask yourself why you wish to make these changes. And write that down, too. Identify why you engage in the behavior you would like to stop and think through a means to that end. By engaging in a more thorough discovery process, you can whittle your resolutions down to a few key, attainable objectives.

Be realistic

Keep your list of goals short and reasonable. People often set themselves up for failure by trying to make too many dramatic changes at once. Beware of burnout. Many of us start off the New Year with an overly ambitious agenda, making it easier to eventually give up and return to our old habits. Start by making small changes over time.

Shout it out

Keep yourself accountable by telling friends and family about your goals. By getting the word out there, you create a community of support. Making a resolution is really a decision to make a change. And change is difficult. When you share your goal with others, you enlist witnesses to your journey so that when you have a moment of weakness, you have someone to look to for encouragement. When you are thinking of skipping that workout or indulging in an extra slice of cake, your witnesses can help to keep you on track.

30 days to a new way

A new habit takes time. Fully commit yourself for the first month and select a milestone you would like to achieve by the end of January. No cheating! By signing up for a thirty day commitment, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. When you reach that light at month’s end, your new habit should be a comfortable part of your daily routine, making it easier to stick with it going forward. Stay centered and mindful of the fact that each day of that first month provides a new avenue for growth. By placing a thirty day milestone on your goal, you can settle into the present tense and take on each day as it comes. Once your first milestone is achieved, you can use this initial success to increase your motivation in achieving your ultimate goal.

Failure is a part of progress

Despite your best efforts, cheating may happen along the way. Falling off that metaphoric wagon is part of what makes us human. Don’t let a setback stop you! There are all sorts of reasons for people to relapse when making a change in behavior or habit. It is how we move on after a failure that determines how successful we will be in attaining our goal. As Dr. Schreier notes, “Your life is a summary of past habits and choices you make. Any change you make today becomes a part of who you are going forward.” Like anything in life, you have to believe in yourself and your goal if you are going to achieve a New Year’s resolution. Be mindful that each day is a new opportunity for success.