Author: Liz Dawes
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This is the time of year when we promise rashly to change our lives forever. 

Sound familiar?  I do this every year.  I will lose weight, overhaul my wardrobe, get fit, do more home cooking, get to grips with my novel and spend more time with the family.  I will.  Except of course that I will not.

What actually happens is that I am a whirl of insane activity until around mid-February, when I can finally be found gorging on chocolate brownies (at least I managed the “home cooking” thing) whilst admitting with a guilty expression that I am as unfit as ever but don’t actually need to clear out my wardrobe because some of it will definitely fit when I definitely do get around to losing weight in time for my summer holiday.  It’s about time I broke the cycle.

So. Here are my golden rules for making my New Year’s Resolution, and keeping it:

1. One step at a time. 
I am only going to make one resolution.  Life is far too busy to change many aspects at once.  That requires too much organisation, thought and commitment.  Half my ideas fail because I just don’t have time to learn all of the new regimes at once.  So I will focus on one change at a time, and maybe that way in five years’ time I’ll have five new healthy habits.  Well, that’s the idea anyway.

2. Girl’s just wanna have fun!
Instead of something worthy but painful, I have picked something I really want to do. I am going to take up Yoga. It’s good for fitness, losing weight and relaxation, and crucially I actually want to do it.  The combination of it being virtuous as well as fun means I might stick to it.

3. Small steps count. 
If by the end of February all I have managed to do is locate a class, sign up, and attend the first session, that’s fine. I don’t have to become a Yogi Master in 6 weeks for it to count as a success.  As long as I am making progress towards my goal throughout the year, that will be good enough.  Gradual changes will mean that eventually the resolution is worked into my everyday life and becomes part of my routine.  Job done. *Hopeful Face*.

4. Try, try again.
If it turns out that I don’t get to a class one month because I was busy or tired or ill or whatever, I will not use this as an excuse to give up altogether.  I will pick up where I left off, and put the pause in activity down to a blip.  I will do this!

5. Bribery gets you everywhere.
I am a greedy guts and I like shiny new things.  I will reward myself with something sparkly and lovely in July and again in December if I have stuck to my resolution at the 6 month and 1 year marks.

So, there it is.  My fool proof guide to keeping my New Year’s Resolution. 

Plus, of course, I’ve told you lot all about it now, so I HAVE to do it…… Happy New Year!