Lizzie Dickinson

First off I know a lot of you find it difficult to keep your resolutions especially if it’s something like skipping cakes or chocolate. So here are my Top Five Tips (adapted from ibdcrohns.about.com) on keeping those resolutions:

1. Talk about it

Don’t keep your resolution a secret. Tell friends and family members who will be there to support your resolve to change yourself for the better or improve your health. The best case scenario is to find yourself a buddy who shares your New Year’s resolution and motivate each other.

2. Reward yourself

This doesn’t mean that you can eat an entire box of chocolates if your resolution is to diet. Instead, celebrate your success by treating yourself to something that you enjoy that does not contradict your resolution. If you’ve been sticking to your promise to eat better, for example, perhaps your reward could be going to a movie with a friend.

3. Track your progress

Keep track of each small success you make toward reaching your larger goal. Short-term goals are easier to keep, and small accomplishments will help keep you motivated. Instead of focusing on losing 30 pounds, say, focus on losing that first 5. Keeping a food diary or a symptom journal may help you stay on track.

4. Stick to it

Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity, such as exercising, to become a habit, and 6 months for it to become part of your personality. Your new healthy habits will become second-nature in no time.

5. Keep trying

If your resolution has totally run out of steam by mid-February, don’t despair. Start over again! There’s no reason you can’t make a “New Year’s resolution” any time of the year.

Try those 5 tips and you should find it easy to stick to your resolutions. Now for those of you who haven’t got any yet, never fear for look at what I have here!

 3 simple steps on how to make some New Year’s resolutions you can stick to!

1. Think of what bothers you and/or others the most that you do. Think of only a few other ways or you’ll find it all too much too stick to.

2. If it’s something like losing weight or cutting down on something think of how much you want to lose/cut down on and make sure it’s reasonable!

3. Use the Top Five Tips above to make sure you stick to your resolutions!

And there we have it, as simple as One, Two, Three!