As we get ready to count down to the start of the new year it’s important to remember all the accomplishments of our previous year. I know this past year has been an up and down roller coaster for me and I’m sure some of you have experienced the same thing. Now as most of you know the New Year brings with it new promised commitments that most of us will never keep! The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way! New Year’s resolutions are as varied as the people in America but it seems that most have put together a top 10 New Years Resolutions list.

Now as you all are probably familiar most center around getting in shape, whether that be losing a few pounds or eating healthier. Although these are admirable goals, the average success rate of New Years resolutions is around 12 %. Now that rate is far to low to give anyone any positive reinforcement but it doesn’t have to be that way for you. In the New Year I want you to set concrete goals with actual measurable results. Now that may seem like a mouth full but let me ask you this, “What exactly does getting in shape mean to you?” If asking that question to 100 different people the answers are likely to be all over the place. You see, setting goals that are broad and have no focal point not only ensure that you’ll never actually reach them but they also don’t help you actually accomplish anything! In order to make lasting significant changes in your life you have to set measurable goals that you can track and say to yourself, “Ok, i’m on the right track!” That is the big difference in goal setting and actually reaching a goal.

As you count down to the New Year I want you to set some specific measurable goals. Don’t be afraid to be too specific. Say to yourself, “I want to lose 10 pounds by March 2012″ and make sure you track those changes and work towards those goals. Another trick i’ve learned is to set small goals that you want to accomplish on a month to month basis. Not only does this help keep you motivated but at the same time you learn something new in the process which helps keep your mind active because often during fitness we over look our mental health as well. The thing to do is set small achievable goals on a month to month basis. Say, you want to learn how to cook your favorite dish. Set that as a goal for January 2012 and go out and do it!! Or, you could want to learn how to play your favorite song on guitar. The idea is not to set outlandish goals like being fluent in a foreign language in a month which is highly unlikely to occur but to set small measurable goals that not only foster learning but also make you feel good about accomplishing that goal you set for yourself. These things are important in life and too often we overlook our own personal development because we get too caught up in the rat race of life trying to take care of bills and family. Take some time for yourself. Nobody wants to work for a living just to pay bills!

So in the New Year I want you to take some time for yourself and set those small measurable goals. Don’t be afraid of failure but make sure you actually give it your best effort otherwise your only hurting yourself. Its quite easy to give up on things but it’s damn hard to actually go for it with all your heart! So be true to yourself in the New Year, learn something new, and enjoy your time doing it! Happy New Year!!