As we begin a New Year, it is important for us to take the time to look back on the events of a year that has gone by quickly. Some of these reflections will no doubt bring to mind some wonderful and incredible memories such as the time we were able to spend with family and friends, or celebrating the birth of a child or remembering how you got that job or promotion you’ve been working so hard toward. Or maybe you said “I do” to the one you love or went on the vacation for which you had been saving for months and months. Maybe you finally reached that weight-loss goal you had been shooting for since the last time New Year’s came around.

Unfortunately, for many of us, this past year may have also included some difficult and challenging times.

But as we look forward to this New Year, it is even more important to reflect on the changes we want and need to make, and to make sure that we follow through on those changes.

To that end, it is now time to begin creating your New Year’s Resolutions. What are your goals personally and/or professionally? Have you created a plan to achieve your resolutions/goals? What can you do to keep the momentum going with sticking to your resolutions?

For many of us, one of the top New Year’s resolutions is to exercise more. Of course, for the first few weeks in January, we are in the gym several times a week along with everyone else that made the same resolution. Then, February and March roll around and the number of people in the gym fades – no more waiting around for a treadmill machine to be available, no more crowded exercise classes. So, what happened to everyone’s resolutions?

Here are a few tips to help keep you on track with your goals for the upcoming year:

Write Down your Resolution(s)

• Make sure your resolutions are meaningful & important to you

Create a Plan (be sure to write it down)

• Make sure your resolutions/goals are reasonable & attainable – losing 30 pounds in two weeks is probably not a reasonable one.
• Establish timeframes and deadlines
• Monitor and track your progress

Think “Year ‘Round”

• Rome wasn’t built in one day. Accomplishing your resolutions won’t happen in one day, either. Yes, it may take only a day or two to determine your resolutions but there are many steps that happen throughout the year to successfully achieve them.

Be Flexible

• Life has a funny way of throwing curve balls at us unexpectedly. You must be prepared to revise your plan, and sometimes it may even require changing the goal. For example, if your plan is to lose weight but you find out you’re pregnant, you’re going to have change that goal around. The new goal might be to eat healthier, exercise more, etc.

A few of my New Year’s Resolutions are to improve my balance between work/life – I want to spend more time at home with my family; help more people by donating to various charitable organizations and/or volunteer more of my time at community events; obtain the Strategic Professional Human Resource (SPHR) certification; and last, but not least, I simply want to Enjoy Life More!

Life is a precious gift. Take the time to take care of and pamper yourself. If you don’t, it will have a negative impact on your happiness and health. As a result, this will affect your family, friendships and productivity at work.

What are your New Year’s Resolutions? I encourage you to follow these steps to help you successfully achieve your own resolutions for 2010. Good Luck!

Larissa Sutton

Human Resources Manager

This entry is filed under Blog.