Set Realistic Goals - If you are unrealistic about what you can accomplish, you are likely to give up. Trying to lose weight, get in shape, stop smoking and get organized all at the same time is not very realistic. Don't try to "fix" everything at once. Changing a habit takes hard work. Pick one at a time to focus on.

Be Specific - You are setting yourself up for failure if your resolution looks something like this: "I want to be more organized". How are you going to know when you've accomplished your goal? Be specific - what would you like to be more organized? Your top left file drawer? Your child's toy bin? Your email inbox? When do you want to accomplish your goal? Consider this sample resolution: "I will reduce the number of emails in my inbox from 3,241 to 50 by February 15, 2009 at 1:00 p.m.". It is very specific, and it is very easy to measure.

Write it Down - Lee Iacocca once said, "The discipline of writing something down is the first step toward making it happen." I couldn't agree more. Write down your goal and put it where you can see it often.

Break it Down - If your new year's resolution is large, break it into small, specific steps. In the email example, we have about 30 days to accomplish the goal. If you want to work on it each day, then you should target to get rid of approximately 100 emails each day.

Track your Progress - Use a journal and track your progress. If you backslide a little bit, don't give up. Focus on the end result - you are still working toward your goal.

Whatever your new year's resolution is, follow these steps and believe in yourself!


YOU CAN DO IT!