Written By: m. lauren

2009 is fast approaching. You’ve given all the gifts, kissed under all the mistletoe you could find and hit every day-after-Christmas sale around. Now it’s time to start thinking about the best party night of the year, New Years Eve. As December 31 approaches, every grandmother, auntie and random cashier at Macy’s is going to ask: “What’s your resolution this year?” What will your answer be?

Most likely your resolution will sound something like:

· Girl, I’m gonna lose so much weight this year!
· Man, I’m gonna save so much money this year!
· Dude, you know my rap career is about to blow up for the ’09

Pump the brakes and change the game for 2009. This year, instead of making resolutions that are whack and not going to happen, make resolutions you can stick to. Here are some surefire steps to ensure a successful New Year’s resolution:

1. Set realistic and achievable goals. For instance, “making a million dollars in one year working at McDonalds” just isn’t happening!
2. Make your goals specific. Something like, “saving $3000.00 by the end of the year” is more specific than just “saving money.”
3. If your goals are large break them down into smaller ones. For instance, “depositing 25% of each paycheck into an untouched savings account”.
4. Don’t be afraid of failure. According to William Hale, a psychologist for Case Western Reserve’s University Counseling Services, “most people get into this all or nothing thinking about resolutions…they get so far along and then they fail. This is why the best way to keep up is to start small and work your way up. Just because you fail doesn’t mean you’re a failure, it means you’re human…look to the successes up to the point [where] you messed up and reward yourself for your accomplishments.”

Making a New Year’s resolution isn’t a science. Simply set goals that are realistic and attainable. Make sure that the goals you set are things you truly care about, or they won’t matter. Most of all, have fun reaching your goals and share your successes with others. Follow these steps and thank me when 2010 comes and you’re 20 pounds lighter and thousands richer!