A new year is just around the corner. At the start of the New Year, I always find myself saying, “This year is going to be different,” and I set the infamous New Year’s Resolution of losing weight.  Do I ever stick by it? Of course not! Who does? But this New Year I really want to try. So, since I know most of you would like to know the secrets of sticking by your resolutions and/or 2009 goals, here are some ideas that may help.

As every year turns around the corner, the top New Year’s Resolutions are generally the same: quit smoking, get out of debt, find a new job, and my personal favorite, get into shape and lose weight .

Whether you would like to lose weight or just span out into a healthier new you for 2009, here are some tips that might help you actually stick to your healthy resolutions.

1. Keep the thought on your mind all the time: Write your goal down and keep it in a place where you will be forced to look at it several times a day, such as at your desk at work, on your dashboard in your car, on your mirror in the bathroom, or on your forehead; wherever works best for you. It has been psychologically proven that if you are more conscious of your goals you are more than likely to accomplish them. 

2. Baby steps: Make it your goal to incorporate a new healthy habit once a week; such as cutting out caffeine or eating fewer carbohydrates. A small goal every week will keep you more conscious of your bad habits.

3. Downsize your grocery list: Take temptation out of your home- stop stocking junk food in your pantry! Oftentimes we reach out to this type of food when we are bored; if it’s there, we will eat it. I only buy the necessities when I go grocery shopping. Besides, why do you need so much food, who are all those people you are feeding?

4. Find a like-minded spirit: Recruit a buddy that will hound you about your goals and check in on you; the best person for this job is someone who will be around you a lot, most likely a co-worker or someone that lives in your home. Give them permission to bug you as much as necessary.

5. Get your beauty rest: Make it your goal to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night. It has been proven that sleep deprived people weigh more than the sleep assured.

Remember that living a healthier lifestyle is all about your mindset; start to think healthy and you will have a higher chance of becoming healthier.

Start off 2009 right and have a healthy New Year!

What is your New Year’s resolution? And how do you plan to stick by it?

Photo Credit: Reader’s Digest and HubPages.com