Did you start out the New Year with resolutions that you are not keeping?

Often we make resolutions that require us to develop a number of new habits, then get discouraged when we don’t persist. For example, resolving to lose 10 pounds requires that you eat healthier and exercise more often. In actuality, that means implementing a number of new habits: planning ahead for meals, shopping for healthier foods, preparing a lunch to bring to work, stocking your desk with healthy snacks, drinking more water, fitting exercise into your routine, etc. The list goes on. It’s no wonder those New Year’s resolutions are so hard to keep!

It’s hard to implement a new habit, much less multiple new habits. When we bombard ourselves with new habits, we are much more likely to give up after a few weeks and revert to our old ways. We are creatures of habit, after all!

The secret to keeping those resolutions is to start small. For example, those of you know me know that I am committed to leading a healthy lifestyle and I am fairly active. But, you might be surprised to learn that a number of years ago, I didn’t exercise at all. What changed? To graduate college, I had to take a PE class. Being quite unmotivated, I chose the easiest one–jogging and walking for fitness. I focused on the walking. After all, that was easier than jogging. The class met three times per week, which meant I was walking three times per week. It also meant I had accountability. I fully intended to stop walking after the course ended. But, during those few months, something happened. I got into a routine of walking mid-day. I looked forward to the time to talk with my friends as I walked. When I went home for the summer, I recruited my mother and we went for walks. When I went off to graduate school, I got a dog. That really gave me accountability for walking every day! Before I knew it, walking became a habit. Now I walk regularly and don’t give it a second thought. It’s just what I do. Walking became a habit that led to a number of healthier habits for me over the years, all of which add up to a healthy lifestyle.

So, if you are not keeping your New Year’s resolutions, start small. Pick one new habit to implement and focus on that until you are doing it consistently. For example, if you want to lose weight, replace one soda per day with water. Once you are doing that consistently, move on to implementing another healthy habit. If you snack a lot during the day, replace one of those snacks with a healthy snack. Do that consistently for awhile, then add another new habit, such as going for a walk after dinner. Although it will take you longer to achieve your goal to lose weight, you are much more likely to keep the weight off once you lose it. By the end of 2008, you will have developed a number of new habits that support you in a longer term goal of being healthy and fit.

The key to meaningful, sustainable change is to think big and start small. Pick a big goal. Then pick one small habit to implement that will bring you closer to achieving your goal. Start with the easiest habit to implement. This will give you immediate success and keep you motivated. Then give yourself some accountability. Partnering with a coach increases your accountability for achieving bigger and better goals. You’ll amaze yourself. Small steps really do lead to big change!

Keep in mind, these strategies can be applied to goals in any area of your life–business, career, fun/recreation, finances, even relationships!

Business & Life Coach, Sabrina Schleicher, Ph.D. offers a FREE e-course: 7 INSIDE TIME MANAGEMENT SECRETS OF ELITE PERFORMERS plus FREE subscription to her newsletter at http://www.tapthepotential.com