So the new year is upon us, and every new year we make resolutions. However, how many of those resolutions are the same old resolutions you have been making year after year? 

Most are probably about weight loss, start exercising, quit smoking, and/or spend more time with family. If this sounds like you – it’s time to set some new goals or refresh old goals by making them “SMART”er, making yourself accountable and giving yourself an incentive. 

If one of your goals is to lose weight – set incremental goals. By setting incremental goals you will be able to see progress and you will not procrastinate. It’s okay to rework your goals but set some hard dates as well. If you don’t make your goal, don’t get too hard on yourself, you can rework your goal into something else. For example, your original goal may be to lose 20 pounds – one pound per week, for four months – but in as the second month comes to an end, you have only lost 2 pounds and you’re not anywhere near the 8 pounds you wanted to lose. You can keep trying and put in more effort or you can rework your goal to just exercise for 30 minutes every day. If you’re already doing 30 minutes everyday, increase it to 45 minutes or 1 hour. 

Find someone to motivate you when you’re not feeling so motivated. Working with a partner, be it a friend, a spouse or that special someone helps keep you going when you don’t feel up to it. Write it down, join a support group online, blog, or just leave us notes on our facebook page or twitter and talk about your progress. By writing it down for others to see, it makes you accountable for your actions and you can also get encouragement from other as well. 

Reward yourself. For every milestone you reach give yourself a little something, it could be as simple as buying a new article of clothing – consider one of our sexy pieces – or you can purchase a $50 gift card each time you hit your milestone in hopes to purchase that one big item like a new flat screen or ipad2 (you have been eyeing all year) at the end of your goal. Giving yourself small rewards will help keep you motivated to reach your goal. 

Also consider taking up something new or going back to what you love to do. This will make it feel less like trying at it and will be more incorporated into your daily activities while you work on your goal. Every year I try to pick up a new sport or hobby. One year I tried snowboarding and loved it and want to pick it up again. Another year I tried tennis and it was fun but I didn’t continue it because I don’t have anyone to play tennis with. I also tried learning to play a guitar and photography, which flopped but atleast I tried. I have picked up drawing and painting again and am enjoying doing that in my free time. Just doing something different from the norm will help keep you energized and passionate about what you want to do to keep up the good work on the goals you have set for yourself. 

So instead of a diet, maybe set goals in regards to watching what you eat, or eating healthy or making meal plans ahead of time. Instead of start exercising, set a schedule of when you want to go to the gym or do some in home training or even just to get out and walk for 15 or 30 minutes. Instead of quit smoking, maybe your goal can consist of cutting back or finding what your trigger points to smoking are. Instead of spend more time with family, schedule family nights or visits or for those who live far away, book your vacation days and buy your ticket. 

So tell us what your new year’s resolution is and how you will accomplish it, or what you want to do different this year. Don’t just set a goal, set incremental goals to achieve your goal.  In the end you will achieve it and feel good about it. 

Best wishes to a great start in the new year and to accomplishing a resolution this year!