Tips for keeping your New Year's resolutions

1. Reassess before resolving - look back on the past year before looking ahead to the next. There may be business to finish before jumping into new resolves.

2. Make resolutions that you want to make - don't let others set your agenda (you'll be much better motivated).

3. Be specific - vague goals are impossible to achieve. Have a plan.

4. Limit the number of resolutions - one is best, but never more than three (people only have so much psychic energy - if a person tries to work on too many things at one time, all the goals are doomed to fail).

5. Do your homework - become an expert on the subject of your resolution. Read books, print out articles from internet sites. It will help to keep you motivated.

6. Count the cost - are you really willing to put out the effort, make the sacrifice or pay the financial cost of the resolution?

7. Take small steps - set your goals in manageable increments.

8. If you fall, dust yourself - get back on the horse.

9. Realize that past failures do not determine future outcomes - unless you believe they do.

10. Chart your successes in a journal - former Mayor of NYC, Ed Koch used to ask his constituents, "How am I doing?" Ask yourself questions.

11. Don't think that January 1^st is the only time you can make resolutions - Some people "blow" a resolution and think they have to wait until the next year to get started again.

12. Take it day by day - today is the only time over which you have control. You cannot control tomorrow or change yesterday.

13. Get yourself a coach - not someone to tell you what to do, but someone to whom you are accountable. You are the one who makes the resolution and decides how to go about accomplishing it. You report your successes and failures to that person and they help you set workable goals.

14. Get a buddy - someone who is working on a similar resolution. Don't let the other get away with rationalizing and slacking off from the plan.

15. Be realistic - with persistent habits, you will probably need outside help and you may never be able to relax your diligence without relapse. Look at it as a permanent lifestyle change.