Making that New Year's Resolution Stick

What's your New Year's Resolution?  Or, even if you aren't the kind of person to go for the capital-letter Resolution, do you have any goals in mind for the coming year?

Some of the most commonly-made goals are to:
Eat healthy/exercise regularly,
Drink less,
Learn a new skill,
Quit smoking,
Improve one's work-life balance,
Volunteer,
Save money,
Get organized,
Read more, and
Finish around-the-house projects.

However, according to the New York Times, the most frequently-broken resolutions are the resolutions to lose weight and get fit, quit smoking, learn something new, eat healthier and diet, get out of debt and save money, spend more time with family, travel to new places, be less stressed, volunteer, and drink less.

Notice any commonalities?  It looks like many of the most frequently made resolutions are also the most frequently broken.  What to do?  Some sources suggest making a small change; with a small modification, you won't be trying to change too much at once.  It also shouldn't be too painful or unpleasant to make a small change, but even small changes can have big results.  For example, rather than saying you'll lose 20 pounds, start by cutting 100 calories a day: switch a muffin for oatmeal or yogurt, or swap a latte for brewed coffee.  By making a daily change instead of setting a hard-and-fast goal, you make the resolution do-able.

If you need some inspiration in finding a New Year's Resolution, perhaps one from this list will be right up your alley. 
Communicate more with family/significant other,
Learn a party trick,
Make one new friend a month,
Read and memorize more poetry,
Try new foods, or
Smile at others more often.

Whatever your resolutions, goals, or unstated thoughts for 2014, the library has resources to get you started, and to keep you going strong.  Get out there, and good luck!

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