It is a brand new year, and new decade.  Every year many people make their New Years Resolutions to change or quit something in their lifestyle.  To many this involves quitting smoking, drinking, eating better or showering everyday.  Unfortunately most of these resolutions end in failure relatively quickly.  Though this seems to be economically beneficial to gyms and companies that sell quit smoking products, it does very little mentally and physically to the individuals that have tried to change their lives.  In some cases this can make someone feel so bad about themselves and worse habits may arise.

The best thing to do to achieve those promises you have set for yourself and others is to set goals and make the small steps first.  When setting up your goals you have to start small, don’t go for the gold medal in the first day.  In athletics even Olympic champions start the new season off so slow that any beginner can keep up.  Exercise and smoking seem to be the hardest thing for people to maintain, starting off cold turkey or running 3 miles on the first day will ultimately lead to failure for most.  Begin with not smoking a cigarette a day and progress from there.  If healthy eating is what you want to do cut back your portions or not having as many sodas a day.  To do this you will have to write down your plans. 

Go a get a day planner or just a notebook and write out your goals.  Start off with what you want to accomplish and the day you started.  Write down what you want by the first week, then month, then by the year.  You may want to quit smoking in 3 months or run a marathon in 6 months, but keep your goals written down.  As the days progress you continue to write in your journal, this will lead you to see how much has been accomplished and what is needed to do.  In athletics one of the best resources is the journal, this will show how much you trained, ate, slept, and your times.  These journals are also a sort of scrap book of your success and where you want to go.  This is also an excellent way to increase your goals and make changes that are necessary. 

The next step is to follow through with your goals.  Since you have taken the time to think about what you want, and have taken the time to write down a goal plan, then you should now do it.  Failure is winning, because the attempt was made.  Janet Evans and Michael Phelps failed many times in the pool by not achieving their goals for the day, but the attempts were still made daily and look at the results.  If you slip off your diet, or smoke an entire pack do not panic.  You have not lost, just had a setback.  Write it down in your journal and make the attempt the next day by getting back on track.  Your body may need the rest from the exercise or the stress of the day might bring on that craving for a drink or smoke.  When you get to the point that you can overcome the urge is when the big smile will come over your face when you write it down that night.

To bring on any change in your life is an important and giant step.  When you have accomplished your goals the emotional high will be better than any you have ever felt.  This is extremely hard step to take but one that anyone can win at.  Good Luck and Happy New Year.