Tips to Keep Your 2011 Resolutions Going Strong

Gift yourself in 2011 - just like this little guy, enjoy the moment and new discoveries. Try to find mystery and wonder in the simple pleasures.Keep this in mind as the new year begins. Are you setting new goals? It's common practice, and the majority fall into the categories of losing weight, smoking cessation and starting an exercise program. But even more common is the tendency to break New Year's resolutions. Research suggests that the longterm success rate is only around 20%. Chances are, at some time, you've been a part of this statistic. How can you stop the cycle of resolving to make change, but then not following through? Here are some strategies that may help:

Be realistic. Strive for a goal that is reasonable and attainable. Instead of resolving to never again eat the fattening foods you love, avoid them more often than you do now. Choose practical solutions that you will be help you succeed.

Outline your plan and have a backup. If you decide to stop smoking, how will you deal with the temptation to have one more cigarette? What about calling on a friend for support or participating in a pleasurable activity instead. Or practice positive thinking and visualize a healthier body. Know that you'll cough less, breathe easier and be able to exercise more.

Talk about it. Don't keep your new goal a secret. Find a friend who shares your resolve and continue to motivate each other. Find support through a smoking cessation program or join a weight loss group. Tell family members who can be there to talk you through the tough times.

Log on Wednesday for more ideas about how to keep your resolutions going strong. In the meantime, HerMentorCenter.com has lots of articles to read in 'Family Relationships' and the 'Newsletter Library.' Or sign our email list to the left of this post to download a complimentary ebook on how to reach your goals and for a free monthly newsletter full of practical tips.

New Year's Resolution to Take Care of Yourself

If your resolution is to take better care of yourself, make sure that you have a mindset to accomplish your goals. Resolutions to lose weight or quit smoking that are too ambitious can be difficult to achieve.

Be realistic. Strive for a goal that is reasonable and attainable. Instead of resolving to never again eat the fattening foods you love, avoid them more often than you do now. Choose practical solutions that you will be allow you to succeed.

Outline a specific plan. If you decide to stop smoking, how will you deal with the temptation to have one more cigarette? Some possibilities could include calling on a friend for help or participating in a pleasurable activity instead. Practice thinking positive and visualize a healthier body - consider that you will cough less, breathe easier and be able to exercise more.

Talk about it. Don't keep your new goal a secret. Tell family members who can be there to support you. Enroll in a smoking cessation program or join a group. Find a friend who shares your resolve and continue to motivate each other.

Reward yourself. This doesn't mean to eat a box of chocolates if your goal is to diet. Celebrate your success by treating yourself to an activity that doesn't contradict your resolution. If you've been sticking to your promise to eat better, perhaps your reward is a movie with a friend.

As 2009 comes to a close, you may be reflecting on how challenging the past year has been. Want to begin the new year on a firmer footing? Click on the title of this post to read an article on HerMentorCenter.com about how to inventory your assets.

Sandwiched Boomers and New Year's Resolutions

The idea of New Year's resolutions is not really new. In Roman mythology, Janus was the god of beginnings and endings, and was usually depicted with two heads facing in opposite directions. According to legend, one of his heads looked backwards into the old year and the other forwards into the new one. Over two thousand years ago, the Romans ended the year by reviewing the one before. They resolved to achieve more in the new year and pay homage to Janus, namesake of the month January.

As Sandwiched Boomers, what are you planning to add to your 'to do' list? New Year's resolutions are common practice and the majority of them fall into three categories: lose weight, start exercising and quit smoking. But even more common is the tendency to break them.

Research suggests that the long-term success rate is only about 20%. Chances are, at some time, you've been a part of this statistic. How can you stop the cycle of resolving to make change, but then not following through? Log on all week as we discuss strategies that can help you turn year-end ambitions into year-long lifestyle changes.

You can get a headstart by clicking on the title above. That will take you to HerMentorCenter.com and an article with tips about how to begin.

Judge Sonia Sotomayor Stepped out of the Box - how can you?

Federal appeals court Judge Sonia Sotomayor rose to the top of the legal profession. And she made history when the Senate confirmed her as the nation's third female and first Hispanic Supreme Court justice. She was sworn in over the weekend.

This capped an extraordinary rise from humble beginnings. She was born in the Bronx and grew up in a public housing project. Her father died when she was 9 and her mother, whom Sotomayor described as her biggest inspiration, worked six days a week to care for the family. Sotomayor graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University and went on to attend Yale Law School.

Sotomayor stepped out of the box, and so can you.



Think of something you've always wanted to do.
Let go of your fear as you evaluate your strengths and resources.
Set a goal, make a plan and begin to take small steps toward it.
Work at your own pace, have realistic expectations and never give up.
Stay motivated to grow your skills and turn your dreams into reality.

Granted, deciding to initiate change is not always easy. Don't make it harder on yourself by trying to create the perfect situation - this video is a good example of that! Want more support to get you going? Click on the title of this post to read an article about the politics of change.

Strategies to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

Over two thousand years ago, the ancient Romans began the practice of making New Year's resolutions when they named the first month after Janus, the god of beginnings. Janus had two faces, one looking back at the old year, the other looking forward to the new one. In order to secure good fortune in the future, January became the time when you ask forgiveness for past deeds and look inward for how you can improve.

Now that you have made your own personal resolutions - still an honored ritual at this time of year - how do you avoid another universal tradition - breaking them? We all know that it's easier to say you are going to give up a bad habit than to actually stick to your new plan. As parents have told their children for centuries, "Do as I say, not as I do."

You may have resolved to finally lose the ten pounds that have been plaguing you for years, to start an exercise program you can stick to, to let go of your self-destructive smoking, drinking or over-spending habit. Or, perhaps you're one of the 50% of Americans who vow to spend more time with family and friends this year. So where do you begin? And how do you increase the odds that you will continue? With the New Year, you have a clean page, ready to take your dictation.

Click on the title above to take you to our HerMentorCenter.com article, New Year's Resolutions for Sandwiched Boomers. It gives you 9 ideas about setting New Year's resolutions to reduce pressures for members of the Sandwiched Generation. And tune in this week as we give you some tips to help you accomplish your goals.

Are you like the millions of Americans who, year after year, make New Year's resolutions that they don't keep? Have you made a vow to lose 25 pounds, exercise four times a week or save monthly for your retirement?

Noble goals - but do you keep them past the end of January? More crucial than setting broad goals is setting achievable ones and then putting them into practice.

As 2008 begins, we're going to focus on how, as Sandwiched Boomers, you can make your resolutions work for you. By tomorrow, all you need to do is take a few minutes of quiet time, reflect on the biggest challenges you're facing and write them down. We'll take it from there.