Someone once said that a New year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other year.

Why is it important that we stick to our resolutions since most of them were made on the spur of the moment, so easily forgotten.As long as they did not mean anything in the first place one need not pay much importance to them.

But look at it from a different angle, in life we need to take some decisions that may yield positive results for our growth and for the all round benefit of our family,career and our own well being.In these stress and worry filled days individuals need to assess thier life situation every now and then take some decisions. So why not do that on New Year’s day or New Year’s eve?

One has to admit that New Year resolutions normally don’t last very long – sometimes they last only as long as your hangover! We may begin with all sincerity and dedication, but as months roll along , interest and commitment begin to wan. But, it doesnt have to be that way – with regular reviews and assesments , and given the fact that we can stay focussed on our work and career , can’t the same thing work for ressolutions as well ?

It is already September now and the perfect time for assessing how you did on your new year resolutions so far ? With a few more months to go before 2012 draws to a close, this also is the right time to take stock of our current status, tweak our short term goals and set some long term goals , and also focus on converting our dreams into a reality !

How to go about it

First of all , when your mind and you ae relatively free, and not too pre occupied , sit down and list out all the resolutions that you made at the beginning of the year.For making it easier for you divide them into different headers such as Personal,Children,Work, Finance,Health etc;

For example :-Your personal list would probably look like this

Wake up at 6 every morning and Go for a walk everyday

Get organised at home and at work

Your Children list would probably look like this

Spend more time with them alone individually

Listen to them and be understanding and not always dictate and discipline

Your Health list would probably look like this

Lose 15 kilos by the end of the year

Go for regular medical check ups to monitor your blood pressure

Your work list would probably look like this

Stop playing on line and focus on work

Be nice to co-workers and polite to juniors

So, once you make a list of all the different resolutions that you made at the beginning of the year in January or probably even before that on 31st December last year before the new year began, now is the time to assess your performance based on your resolutions.

Assessing yourself

Most of our resolutions aim at growing,evolving and moving out of our comfort zone , which means they help improve self confidence and self esteem. So once you are sure that your resolutions are worth sticking to , you have to go forward and work at it and assess yourself every three months to see how you are faring?

While doing this you have to be absolutely honest sinceit doesnt help you, if you try to overlook certain things and gloss over certain others.You have to assess your performance and also grade yourself.

Be honest and rate yourself on a scale of 1 – 10. Here, 1 indicating poor and 10 outstanding. If you are at the 2’s and 3’s level you really have done precious little, and a score of 5-6 means that you are trying.If your score is 7’s and above it means that you have done well,you can afford to pat your back but keep at it since there are 3 more months left . The same goes for poor scores - you still can do something about them. An average score of 8 and above shows that you are a person who is committed to your word and resolutions no matter what!

How to stick to your resolutions

Once you are sure that your resolutions are worth sticking to the only thing you can do is move forward and do better .Here are some points to consider !

Be Specific

Instead of allowing yourself a vast canavas like I will try to be healthier, focus on what you would do to stay healthier – like join a gym or do workout for so many hours in a week or do yoga or eat a healthy breakfast and have a light early dinner before 8pm.

Where financial issues are concerned – how much you will save each month ? should be put down in facts and figures , like Rs 5,000 a month into PF or a Compulsory saving deposit, also where exactly you are going to cut down spending to make this possible.

Keep it Simple and Sraightforward

Always make your targets achievable otherwise you will lose interest right at the beginningwhen you realise that your target is way beyond your reach. Aiming to lose 10 kilos in a month is a sure shot for diasaster since it is neither healthy nor advisable nor is it possible.Instead if you aim at losing 10 kilos in 6 months with a steady loss of 2 kilos per month, your traget is not only realistic but definitely achievable and even the small weight loss each montn keeps you motivated to achieve your final target.

Time bound Goals

To fulfill resolutions it is essential to map out a plan that lets you measure progress, so that you keep taking stock periodically to check and see that you are on the right track.You may or may not have achieved what you set out to do when the New Year rolled in, but a timely check can ensure that you end the year with most of your resolutions accomplished.

Make a list

Make it short and interesting.If you make an over long list of resolutions you may end up getting disillusioned just by looking at it. Trying to ensure that you do too many things at the same time often spells disaster – it means that you end up vacillating and unable to stick to even one of them.Set yourself a small list. There is always next year for more resolutions.

Don’t Give up when you fail

Its fine to fail or fall once in a while after all we are all human and are capable of making mistakes or giving in to tempatations.Not being able to stick to something does not mean that you will never be able to make it.So, Just because you have failed and gorged on a huge piece of Chocolate cake ,does not mean that it’s over and you can scarp the drop the weight resolution for the year.Instead go back and start all over again and you will succeed.

Finally Reward yourself

You have to remember that resolutions don’t have to mean that your entire life turns dull and grey.If you are aiming at fitness,give yourself a little treat once in a while when you complete a goal - an icecream or a slice of cheesecake , no harm in that as long as you dont make it a habit.

Remember that people with plans that they stick to generally fare better than those who are clueless.When you see changes - small ones in the beginning ,positive changes and bigger changes with time you begin to feel good about yourself and are ready to make some more resolutions ..So you can build your goals and set targets to ensure that you can end the year with most of your missions successfully accomplished.