At the year’s end, people traditionally make resolutions for the coming year. Common resolutions deal with weight loss, continuing education, eating better, smoking cessation, etc. Here are several effective strategies for keeping these resolutions.

• Share your goals and resolutions with others, which will keep you movated and focused. Consider asking a friend or two for mutual support in accomplishing your goals, as support also increases your achievements.
• Challenge yourself. Try Stickk.com: Change Starts Now, a website that dares you to keep your resolution or lose money. Or, make a bet with a friend that you will reach your resolution’s goal.
• Review your progress on the past year’s resolutions and use that information to fine-tune your new ones.
• Create a realistic, written action plan for each resolution, which improves your chances of achievement.
• Choose to simply avoid debt. Tips: leave credit and debit cards at home, pay cash for items, avoid buying items without researching them first, use famous snowball technique to quickly reduce credit debt, etc.
• End one small expense, like a daily latte or newspaper purchase, and project how much you’ll save by doing so.
• Simplify your life. Ride your bike or walk to work, to visit others, or to run errands. End unused magazine subscriptions. De-clutter your living space.
• Get help from the USA federal government. Click here for a list of common resolutions and for tools and resources to keep them.

HOW TO MAKE AN ACTION PLAN THAT WORKS

An action plan is a great way to get something done. The components of a simple action plan include the goal, a time frame for accomplishing the goal, a short list of actions that will progress one toward the goal, and the outcome or statement for when the goal is realized. Here is an example of a simple action plan:

• GOAL: Stop smoking
• TIME FRAME: 1 April 2009
• ACTIONS: Consult MD for smoking cessation help, Join local smoking cessation group, Firmly commit to ending smoking this year, Calculate weekly and monthly savings from not smoking and visibly post that figure in my home, Identify supportive friends and actively seek their encouragement, Visualize daily how I will be healthier and happier when I am no longer smoking
• OUTCOME: By 1 April 2009, I will be smoke-free.

The most effective action plan is one that is specific, focused, has a clearly declared and measurable outcome, and that has practical actions that one will actually pursue. Thus, the goal, “Go hiking twice monthly”, is more specific and measurable than is “hike more”. Clear goals and outcomes bring clarity and focus to the work for change. By using a simple, written action plan and by reviewing it regularly, you will be well on your way to achieving your goals and meeting your resolutions for the new year. Want a quick way to jump start your project? Grab this post and either print it or place it on your smartphone or computer. Use it as a master action plan and check off the items as you do them.

HOW TO VISUALIZE A GOAL OR OUTCOME

Visualization refers to the mind’s ability to intentionally hold an image or scene in one’s waking conscious mind. The image or scene is the outcome one is seeking, for instance, as in aiming to lose 25 pounds. Close your eyes and bring an image of yourself into your mind. Fill out the details of color, face, clothing, etc., as much as possible. Add in movement, which the brain likes. See yourself slimmer and smiling and dancing, wearing some nice clothing that flatters your newly slimmed figure. The technique of visualization is to see the positive outcome one desires and to practice visualizing a few times daily. In this manner, your energies, resources, and mind will turn to making the outcome real. Stay focused on the positive outcome and your distracting “negatives” or setbacks will diminish as you make progress toward your goal.

PROFILE  James is a storyteller, musician, thinker, scholar, technopagan, creative, and polymath. MORE from Creative